Thursday, 3 September 2015

Saudi Ministry of Health describes preparations for Hajj 2015

KSA's Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Supportive Medical Services and Chairwoman of Supportive Medical Services Committee during Hajj (Nursing, Nutrition, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacy), Dr Munirah bint Hemdan Al-Osaimi, has revealed that more than 5,695 male and female nurses will serve in this year's Hajj season, 1436H, including 3,895 Saudis.

Dr Munirah stated during a press conference that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has reviewed and updated a Hajj guide and policies of nursing work procedures. Meetings for members of the nursing committee are scheduled with directors of nursing in KSA. The ministry has also completed the equipping of hospitals and manpower distribution. In addition, a field training has been conducted in preparation for emergencies.

Al-Osaimi said that, at the end of every Hajj season, the nursing and nutrition committees start preparations for the next season, through training of the manpower and distributing them as needed. She stated that the percentage of Saudi workers in the Hajj is on the increase from year to year, indicating that the selection of workers is based on the required efficiency and work experiences. She pointed out that the nursing committee will participate in transporting in-patient pilgrims and ensuring that convoys travel safely from the hospitals of Makkah and the Holy Sites* to Arafat to complete the stages of pilgrimage.

She explained that the Nutrition Committee secured the necessary equipment for the preparation of modern kitchens in health facilities in the Holy Sites, in line with the requirements of workflow, health conditions, safety and security. 

Contracts were concluded with companies specialised in the field of nutrition in hospitals to provide the best meals for workers and in-patients in the hospitals in Holy Sites, besides securing meals for eight sites of hospitals in the Holy Sites. This is in addition to securing meals for emergency field teams in the hospitals of the Holy Sites, and the direct supervision of the completion of nutrition work according to a specific plan set by nutrition specialists and technicians in the Ministry to be followed by contractors. It aims to ensure the application of the terms and conditions of contracts concerned with the provision of nutrition and follow-up on the nutrition of patients in health facilities in the Holy Sites. There are 132 nutrition specialists and technicians that have been nominated in accordance with the standards of specialised qualifications, competence and experience.

All workers responsible for preparing and serving meals have to pass a medical examination before starting work. They are also required to show a valid health certificate as per their work categories, in all the ten sites during the Hajj season.

In a separate announcement it was revealed that His Excellency the Minister of Health, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, has completed an inspection tour through the health facilities of Madinah. Eng. Al-Falih visited Al-Safeyah Health Center, Al-Ansar Hospital and the health centre annexed to the airport.

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about medical support at the Hajj
Read the Suroor Asia blog post about MOH's vaccination initiative

*More about the Holy Sites