MOH News

MOH: Intensive Preparations for this Year's Hajj Season
30 July 2017
​The Ministry of Health (MOH) has further intensified its preparations and efforts to develop and equip its health facilities, and to ensure their readiness to provide healthcare services to pilgrims during Hajj season of 1438H; as from their arrival to the Kingdom via air, sea and land access points, through facility-based services during rituals, up to their safe return to their homelands. A top of MOH’s priorities is its focus on pilgrims’ preventive aspects. MOH also follows up developments and changes in the global health situation in coordination with World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health institutions, including: the international centers for disease control.
 
MOH has taken several precautionary measures, including: developing health regulations to be met by all individuals repairing for Hajj – based on global epidemiological variables, and circulating them to all Saudi embassies and consulates to apply when issuing Hajj and Umrah visas. Also, MOH has activated health control centers at pilgrims’ land, air and sea access points to provide preventive, therapeutic and ambulatory services. These centers have been enhanced with the necessary manpower and medical supplies (vaccines, preventive drugs, and much more), to operate 24/7 during this year’s Hajj season.
 
MOH launches campaigns to vaccinate residents of Makkah and Madinah, as well as all individuals involved in hajj from different sectors against meningitis and seasonal influenza.
 
In the same vein, to provide excellent integrated medical service to pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah (PBUH), MOH has prepared many hospitals and healthcare centers in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites. 25 hospitals have been geared up (4 in Arafat, 4 in Mina, 7 in Makkah, 9 in Madinah, as well as King Abdullah Medical City), with 5000 inpatient beds, including 500 for ICU and 550 for emergency), in addition to the Holy Mosque’s hospital for emergency cases.
 
These hospitals are supplemented with 155 permanent and seasonal health centers across Hajj rites, including 43 health centers in Makkah, 78 in the holy sites, (46 in Arafat, 6 in Muzdalifah walkway, 26 in Mina), 18 in Madinah, 16 on Jamarat Bridge, as well as 3 advanced ambulatory centers around the Holy Mosque in Makkah.
 
As well, 18 medical points will operate on both sides of the train stations. MOH has also geared up several facilities in Makkah, the holy sites and Madinah to treat heat stress and sunstroke cases, by securing proper ventilation using cold water spraying fans, and increasing the number of beds in the holy sites' hospitals to treat heat stress and sunstroke cases.
 
MOH pursues its program 'Safe Surgery Saves Lives' (SSSL), which features providing free specialized healthcare services, including open-heart surgeries, Cardiac Cath, kidney blood and peritoneal dialysis, alimentary endoscopy, obstetrical cases, in addition to other specialized services needed by pilgrim patients.
 
MOH activates field medicine and emergency during Hajj by gearing up a fleet of 100 small ambulances as mobile intensive care units, to handle field ambulatory emergencies, in addition to highly equipped big ambulances.
 
MOH harnesses all human potential to serve pilgrims. More than 29.000 health practitioners - including various medical, technical and administrative groups - are commissioned under the workforce program.
 
 
 



Last Update : 21 August 2019 10:55 AM
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