MoH has taken several precautionary measures, including developing health regulations to be met by all individuals preparing for the Hajj – based on global epidemiological variables, and circulating them to all Saudi embassies and consulates to be shared when issuing Hajj and umrah visas. MOH has also activated health control centres at pilgrims’ land, air and sea access points to provide preventive, therapeutic and ambulatory (outpatient) services. These centres have been enhanced with the necessary manpower and medical supplies (vaccines, preventive drugs, and much more), to operate 24x7 during this year’s Hajj season, the MoH said.
MoH has also launched campaigns to vaccinate the residents of Makkah and Madinah, as well as all individuals involved in Hajj against meningitis and seasonal influenza.
Hospitals and healthcare centres in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites have been prepared. Twenty-five hospitals have geared up (four in Arafat, four in Mina, seven in Makkah, nine in Madinah, as well as King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah), with 5,000 inpatient beds, including 500 for ICU and 550 for emergency use), in addition to the Holy Mosque’s hospital in Makkah for emergency cases.
These hospitals are supplemented with 155 permanent and seasonal health centres across Hajj sites, including 43 health centres in Makkah, 78 in the holy sites, (46 in Arafat, six at the Muzdalifah walkway, plus 26 in Mina), 18 in Madinah, 16 on the Jamarat Bridge, as well as three advanced ambulatory centres around the Holy Mosque in Makkah. Eighteen medical points will operate on both sides of the train stations.
MoH has also prepared several facilities in Makkah, the holy sites and Madinah to treat heat stress and sunstroke cases, by securing proper ventilation using fans which spray chilled water, and increasing the number of beds in the holy sites' hospitals dedicated to heat stress and sunstroke cases.
The MoH Safe Surgery Saves Lives (SSSL) programme, featuring free specialised healthcare services, including open-heart surgeries, cardiac catheterisation, kidney blood and peritoneal dialysis, alimentary endoscopy, obstetrical cases, in addition to other specialised services needed by pilgrim patients.
For field medicine and emergencies during Hajj, MoH has prepared a fleet of 100 small ambulances as mobile intensive care units, to handle field ambulatory emergencies, in addition to highly equipped, larger ambulances.