The Ministry of Health (MOH), represented by the Madinah Health Affairs General Directorate, has proceeded on Sunday Thul Qa`dah 1st, 1436H corresponding to August 16th, 2015, with its activities, making use of its full human and technical capacities and medical equipment, to provide health services for the visitors of the Prophet's Mosque (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) prior to and following this year's Hajj season (1436H).
The General Directorate has completed all arrangements to provide the health, preventive and curative services for the pilgrims and visitors from the time they enter the Kingdom via land, air and sea ports and then through the main roads from and to Madinah and at their places of residence, as well as the patios around the Prophet's Mosque.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has prepared an integrated health plan aiming to attain the best possible level of performance of the health services provided for the Guests of Allah (pilgrims), as well as citizens and residents. Thus, the Ministry seeks to provide a host of integrated health services, by means of curative, preventive and ambulatory programs, as well as highly equipped health facilities, and well qualified cadres who are trained on providing such services.
The Madinah Health Affairs Directorate has prepared seven hospitals, with a total capacity of 999 beds to serve the Guests of Allah, in addition to 135 IC and emergency beds. These hospitals are: King Fahad Hospital (423 beds), Al-Ansar Hospital (100 beds), Al-Miqat Hospital (65 beds), Ohud Hospital (261 beds), Al-Hanakiya Hospital (50 beds), Khaibar Hospital (50 beds) and Al-Hemna Hospital (50 beds). The other governmental hospitals in Madinah region act as a third front line in the event of disasters, Allah forbids, while the private sector hospitals serve as the fourth front line to be used in the event of disasters and insufficiency of beds at MOH's hospitals for emergency cases.
These hospitals are further supported by 18 centers for primary health care, including the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' clinic which is prepared to serve the guests, given that these centers cover the central area around the Prophet's Mosque, assembly places of pilgrims and visitors and the main roads leading to Hajj sites. It is worth mentioning that four health centers have been prepared at the patios around the Prophet’s Mosque namely: Bab Jibreel, Al-Safiah, Bab Al-Salam and Bab Al-Majeidi. Also, four other centers have been prepared in the pilgrims’ housing areas, namely: Al-Bai’ah, Ohud, Qibaa and Al-Ansar health centers. In addition, four other health centers have been prepared at the entrances and exits of Madinah region, including Hujjaj Al-Barr center, Al-Hijra station and Al-Miqat health centers (1 and 2). Two other health centers have been prepared on the main roads to and from Madinah, which are Al-Yutmah health center and Al-Salsa health center.
Also, seasonal health centers at the central area have been renovated and equipped with the best curative and preventive capabilities, including equipment, care beds and well-trained and experienced workforces, to deal with Guests of Allah and circumstances surrounding them. In addition, three health surveillance centers have been prepared at the entrance ports of Madinah region, they are: the health surveillance center at Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah, the health surveillance center at Prince Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu and the health surveillance center at Yanbu port. Furthermore, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Clinic is currently being prepared at one of the hotels to host pilgrims. These health centers accommodate 55 beds.
The MOH has supported the Madinah region with 25 large ambulances to implement the emergency and crisis plan before and after the Hajj season and to rapidly intervene to deal with the cases and transfer them to the health facilities, given that emergency service centers have been prepared at the main roads leading to Madinah to deal with cases of accidents during the Hajj season, in coordination with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority in the region and the road security and civil defense units.
Also, the necessary medical equipment, drugs, medical supplies and vaccines have been provided for the seasonal and permanent centers at the central area and around pilgrims' housing units, ports and on the main roads leading to Madinah, in coordination with the supply department. In addition, the MOH was keen to deliver health awareness messages via monitors, signs, posters and brochures. Over and above, the labor force existing at such facilities has been determined, to identify the required medical cadres, and train them on providing health services for pilgrims.
Also, an adequate quantity of vaccines against the cerebrospinal meningitis and other serums have been provided to deal with health workers and cases that may encounter the pilgrims during their movement or staying, (the flu vaccine, tetanus vaccine and serum, rabies vaccine and serum, anti-scorpion venom serum and anti-snake venom serum).
In addition, the MOH has provided adequate quantities of laboratory requirements and made sure they are well stored, as well as supplying the Central Blood Bank and peripheral blood banks with quantities of blood units and products.
As regards the preventive aspect, the MOH, represented by the Madinah Health Affairs General Directorate, is carrying out a preventive plan, including an immunization campaign against the quadrivalent meningitis for citizens and residents willing to perform Hajj, as well as Hajj workers (health workers, security forces and employees of hotels), and school students who have not been vaccinated over the past two years. Also, field teams, from all sectors, have been formed to carry out the immunization plan at the central area and the units surrounding the Mosque (pilgrims' hotels and residential areas).
Moreover, strict preventive procedures are taken against some contagious and epidemic diseases such as yellow fever, meningitis, cholera and swine flu. Those coming from yellow-fever stricken countries are required to submit an immunization certificate against this disease. It should be validated by world health organizations. If such a certificate is not submitted, the pilgrim will be put under strict health surveillance for six days as of the immunization date, so as to ensure whether any symptoms will emerge, and inform the competent authorities. In addition, all pilgrims should take the quadrivalent vaccine in their respective countries at least 10 days before they set out for Hajj.