According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), till Thursday, 804,237 pilgrims have received meningitis vaccine, through the Health Control Centers of: Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Jeddah Islamic Seaport, Al-Jadidah Arar, Al-Wadia'ah, Al-Bathaa, King Fahd Causeway, Al-Hadithah, Al-Raq'i, Salwa and Halat Amar. Also, 236,569 pilgrims have been vaccinated against polio and 97,705 against yellow fever.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has equipped many health control centers at air, sea and land access points as from this Dhul-Qa‘dah, to ensure substantive control and application of quarantine rules on various carriers, incoming pilgrims and imported food stuffs to protect the Kingdom against infiltration and spread of infections. Such centers are the front defense line to prevent inbound infectious diseases, by taking precautionary measures towards pilgrims, their luggage and carriers. Also, health control centers at air, sea and land access points have been enhanced with the necessary equipment to assume their role, including manpower to operate them 24/7 during Hajj Season, training concerned staff, as well as cutting-edge isolation rooms to segregate suspected cases before taking them to professional hospitals. MOH has also provided medical supplies (vaccines, preventive drugs etc.), in addition to Hi-Tech ambulances to carry patients to the nearest hospital.
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.
They are supplemented by 155 permanent and seasonal health centers across Hajj rites, including 43 health centers in Makkah, 78 in holy sites, (46 in Arafat, 6 in Muzdalifah pedestrian walkway, 26 in Mina), and 18 centers in Madinah, in addition 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.