The Ministry of Health's (MOH) Hajj Preparatory Committees held their 5th meeting today (Tuesday) at the Ministerial headquarters, with the attendance of all members. The Supervisor-General of the Health Services for Hajj and Umrah General Department, Dr. Hussein bin Abdullah Ghannam, explained that the meeting reviewed the latest preparations of the Hajj committees participating in the Ministry's plan for this year's Hajj season (1436H), as well as the preparations taken in Makkah and Madinah regions.
Al-Ghannam said that the meeting approved updating the mechanism of dealing with the latest developments of infectious diseases, and tackled also early preparations to treat cases of sunstroke and heat stress expected during the coming year's Hajj season; that is to be added to securing all equipment, modernizing sun stroke rooms at the holy sites and training all workers on ways of dealing with such cases in a professional and rapid manner, including providing spray fans which proved effectiveness during the last two years.
"Also," he said, "the meeting discussed securing all items of medical and non-medical devices and fulfilling requirements of Makkah and Madinah health affairs directorates and the MOH's committees. The get-together reviewed a mechanism for dealing with emergency cases and disasters, as the attendees agreed on the importance of intensifying simulations in this field."
Within the same vein, the Minister of Health Eng. Khalid Al-Falih issued a decision appointing the Deputy Minister of Health for Human Capital Planning and Development, Dr. Emad bin Ali Al-Jahdali, as Chairman of the Hajj Preparatory Committees for this year. Under this decision, Jahdali will exercise all authorities granted to him.
Such a decision came in the context of the MOH early preparations for this year's Hajj season (1436H) and in accordance with the work interest, which necessitates distribution of tasks, phases and chairmen of sectors and committees during preparation, implementation, follow-up and field supervision of Hajj health services for this year 1436H, between the central departments at the MOH's headquarters and Makkah and Madinah health affairs directorates.