Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 27 April 2014:
His Excellency Eng. Adel M. Fakeih, Minister of Health in charge, has appointed a Council of medical advisors with extensive experience in infectious diseases, to help combat the MERS Corona Virus in the Kingdom.
The 10 member council will work under the direction of Dr. Prof. Tariq Ahmed Madani who was appointed last week as a special advisor to the Ministry.
The role of the Council will be to advise the Ministry on the status and severity of the MERS Corona Virus, as well as the management of existing cases, in the interest of containing the virus and minimizing the risk to public health.
The specialist council members will include Dr. Prof. Tariq Ahmed Madani - Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases from King Abdulaziz University; Professor Eltayeb Abuelzein - Virology & Veterinary Medicine from King Abdulaziz University; Dr. Esam Ibraheem Azhar - Molecular Virology from King Abdulaziz University; Dr. Anees Sendi - Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine from King Abdulaziz University, Dr. Abdulhakeem Althaqafi - Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases from King Faisal Specialist Hospital; Dr. Basem Alraddadi - Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases from King Faisal Specialist Hospital; Dr. Mohammad Qutb - Laboratory Medicine from King Faisal Specialist Hospital; Dr. Ali Alshareef - Emergency Medicine & Intensive Care from National Guard Hospital ; Dr. Yaser Mandoora - Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine from Ministry of Defense; Dr. Samar Badruddin - Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases from Fageeh Hospital.
HE Eng. Adel Fakeih said: “Council members have been chosen based on past relevant experience with similar public health challenges. Their advice and support will undeniably enhance the Ministry’s ability to understand, analyze and report on the virus. As we continue to gather new information we look forward to the Council’s ideas on how to prevent the spread of virus across the country and internationally.”
“This is an important step towards ensuring public safety. I remain fully committed to addressing the public health challenge presented by the MERS Corona Virus.” he added.
In addition to the Council, the recently appointed Minister has opened three Specialist Health Centers in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam to ensure suitable treatment facilities are available for those affected by the MERS Corona Virus. For further information on the MERS Corona Virus, please visit
www.moh.gov.sa