Saudi Health Preparations for Hajj Season 2024
Makkah, Saudi Arabia – As the Hajj season approaches, Saudi Health has announced its full readiness to provide the best healthcare for pilgrims. The health authorities have implemented comprehensive preparations and new technologies to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services in all hospitals, health centers, and mobile clinics across Makkah, Madinah and various holy sites.
Over 32,000 medical and administrative staff, including 5,000 doctors with various specialties, have been deployed to provide necessary healthcare and respond promptly to any emergencies on a 24-hour basis. These staff members will be stationed in 183 healthcare facilities, including 32 hospitals, 151 health centers, and 6 mobile clinics, all equipped with state-of-the-art medical technologies.
In addition to human and material resources, the health authorities have also employed the latest healthcare technologies and automated services. The virtual health hospital and its associated virtual clinics will continue to operate, providing remote healthcare services using advanced technologies. The “Sehati” application will also be utilized to deliver advisory services and medical information to pilgrims through smartphones. Integrated electronic systems and platforms have been established to manage the health data of pilgrims and coordinate efforts among various healthcare facilities. The use of drones for the swift and efficient transportation of blood units and laboratory samples between hospitals in the holy sites has also been established through coordination with relevant authorities.
To enhance integration, the Ministry of Health is participating in the “Road to Makkah” initiative, which aims to facilitate the entry procedures for pilgrims, apply health regulations, and complete preventive measures before their arrival in the Kingdom. This coordination with participating countries ensures the compliance of pilgrims with health requirements prior to their arrival, enabling them to proceed directly to their accommodations without the need for verification procedures at the ports of entry. Efforts to raise health awareness among pilgrims are also being intensified through the distribution of educational brochures and the broadcast of awareness programs on display screens at ports, halls, and pilgrim mission headquarters.
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority has also finalized its preparations, allocating all of its resources, including a ground and air ambulance fleet consisting of ambulances, disaster response vehicles, and rapid response vehicles. They have also deployed motorcycles and golf carts equipped for field ambulance operations. The authority has provided over 2,540 medical, administrative, and female leadership personnel, distributed among 98 ambulance centers in the entry points, Hajj routes, the holy capital, the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and the holy sites. They have also reinforced their human resources with over 694 ambulances and seven air ambulances to ensure a prompt response to emergency cases.
The Public Health Authority, “Weqaya,” is actively participating in the Hajj season by conducting proactive monitoring and enhancing general readiness to respond to public health emergencies. They focus on preventive measures against infectious and non-infectious diseases, heat-related injuries, and the issuance of preventive protocols. The authority also promotes awareness and education through various media channels and deploys surveillance teams in the holy sites before and during the Hajj season. The mobile infectious disease units are equipped with state-of-the-art medical technologies for immediate measures.
In collaboration with the Municipality of the Holy Capital, the Municipality of Madinah, and relevant government entities, the Saudi Food and Drug Administration has conducted over 1,741 field visits and inspections of its regulated facilities. They have also collaborated with the Hajj Affairs Offices through air cargo shipments at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah to inspect incoming products. So far, they have identified 69 non-compliant items out of a total of 12,193 items received from 44 countries.
The authority has also contributed to the awareness and training of 2,344 personnel working in catering kitchens to ensure compliance with all health requirements. They have established awareness pavilions in the fields of food, drugs, medical devices, and products for pilgrims, delivering informative messages in nine frequently spoken languages among the pilgrims. Additionally, they support the awareness of mission leaders in the Hajj delegations by coordinating and integrating with relevant entities to ensure the safety and quality of pilgrims’ food, medications, and medical devices.
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