Ministry of Health has intensified its preparations to deal with cases of heat stress and sunstroke that are expected to occur this year, due to coincidence of the pilgrimage season with high temperatures, therefore, a number of health facilities have been equipped in the Holy Capital, the Holy Sites, and Madinah to deal with cases of heat stress and sunstroke.
The Ministry has allocated 217 beds to receive heatstroke cases, of which 166 beds are in hospitals in the Holy Sites, and 51 beds are in Makkah.
MOH has provided a large number of water mist fans, which have proven effective in dealing with cases of heat stress and sunstroke. It also provided all health facilities (hospitals and healthcare centers) with these ventilators.
The Ministry has implemented a number of courses and field training programs for workers in these health facilities to deal with cases of sunstroke, its treatment mechanism, and methods of transmission.
In the same context, Ministry of Health has intensified its awareness and educational messages to the pilgrims, which include ways to prevent heat stress and sunstroke, warning pilgrims against direct exposure to the hot sun, because of its negative effects.
It is noteworthy that Ministry of Health has provided a number of educational and awareness programs for the pilgrims, through medical affairs offices of pilgrims in various countries, and various means of transportation in a number of different languages. An awareness program was set up for domestic and foreign pilgrims upon their arrival, on how to deal with cases of heat stress and sunstroke.