Ministry of Health enforcing strict health requirements through ports of entry in KSA

The Ministry of Health (MOH), KSA is enforcing strict health requirements on arrivals for this year's Hajj, via land, sea and air as well as on workers at Jeddah Islamic Port. Measures include examining all arrivals to ensure they are in good health, as well as checking their vaccination cards, and giving them preventive treatment against the cerebral meningitis pathogen.

The Director of the Health Surveillance Center at Jeddah Islamic Port, Dr Adel bin Muhammad Turkestani, said that the port is expected to receive about 46,000 persons during this year's Hajj, 1436H, of whom 15,000 are pilgrims and 2,000 seasonal workers. It is projected that about 4,000 persons, whether pilgrims, passengers, sailors or workers at the port will receive therapeutic services at the centre. 

He said that work teams have been formed, covering all medical, preventive and technical specialties, totalling more than 100 specialists for responsibilities at the  Ship Release Technical Office, Medical Center at the Arrival Terminal and Emergency Clinic at the Departure Terminal, as well as in committees handling health awareness, environment health, administrative and technical followups and documentation of all activities through the Information and Statistics Committee.

Measures for sailors include preventing them from leaving the port until after a doctor sees them to make sure of their safety from infectious diseases. Rooms have been allocated for isolation of cases suspected with epidemic or infectious diseases. Also, the Center is fully ready to do on-site radiological testing, if needed, Dr Adel said.