The KSA Ministry of Health (MOH) has allocated 15 centres for Hajj pilgrims’ health control at the kingdom’s land, sea and air ports to protect the country against the importation and outbreak of communicable diseases. The centres run around the clock and became operational at the beginning of Dhul Qa'adah (early August 2016).
The health control centres ensure that all pilgrims coming to KSA, especially from countries with high epidemiological rates of some diseases, have their international travel documents certified, including that for vaccination in their countries. All means of transport are also inspected and their compliance with health requirements is verified. The relevant authorities examine all food items which pilgrims have brought with them. These centres also conduct health education, including the distribution of educational brochures and broadcasting awareness programmes in various languages on display screens at lounges.
Ambulances are on standby to transfer cases and provide them with
advanced healthcare at the nearest hospital. Isolation rooms have been
set up to house suspected cases at the health centres before transfer.
Earlier in August the MOH strengthened crisis management mechanisms in partnership with the British
Bournemouth University, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the British National Health Service (NHS). Laws and procedures for
crisis management were discussed with the university; an assessment of health risks and of the communication system were performed in conjunction with the WHO, while the NHS evaluated the pre-hospital triage system. The Hajj Emergency Committee has organised activities into regions, with the three regions being the central area, sites in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah; and Makkah.
In Hajj 2015 MOH health facilities provided services to more than 405,542 patients among Hajj pilgrims, in addition to screening more than 1,300,000 pilgrims coming through 15 health control centres at land, air, and maritime entry points. During the same Hajj season, the MOH conducted 22 open-heart operations, 668 cardiac catheterisation operations, 2,213 dialysis sessions, and 31 gastrointestinal endoscopy sessions.