The Ministry of Health (MOH) has affirmed that the health status of Umrah pilgrims is good - praise be to Allah - and that no epidemiological or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases have been detected amongst them, according to the health and epidemiological surveillance reports.
The Ministry made clear that the preventive plan – Ramadan 1436H, set by the MOH Agency for Public Health, involves a set of measures for the prevention of diseases, epidemiological surveillance, and quick response to infectious diseases that could develop epidemiological outbreaks.
On his part, the MOH Spokesman, Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Marghalani, explained that, the Ministry of Health keeps on providing its preventive and therapeutic services for Umrah pilgrims, visitors and residents during the current Umrah season. In this regard, he said that: a total of 1156 patients, including 280 Saudis, have received therapeutic services at the primary healthcare centers located in the Mekkan Sanctuary (the Grand Mosque) over the period from Ramadan 1st to 17th 1436H, whilst the cases referred to MOH hospitals in Makkah amounted to 55. He added that the number of Umrah pilgrims who were admitted to emergency sections in Makkah since the outset of this holy month up to Ramadan 18th 1436H is 51282 visitors, whilst the outpatients clinics received 23822 visitors, whereas 3161 cases were hospitalized, and 3073 have been discharged from hospitals during this period.
Dr. Marghalani added that, represented by Makkah Health Affairs General Directorate, the Ministry of Health (MOH), under the direct follow-up of His Excellency the Minister of Health, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Falih, has embarked on implementing an integrated plan, since the outset of Ramadan, to provide health care for Umrah pilgrims. In this context, Makkah Health Affairs General Directorate has harnessed all human and material capabilities for serving pilgrims around the clock. Health services are provided by the highly qualified medical crews, and state-of-the-art medical equipments offered by the Holy City’s seven hospitals, as well as King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), let alone the primary health care centers, and the health centers located inside and in the vicinity of the Mekkan Sanctuary.