Ministry of Health confirmed its willingness to provide health services for pilgrims, which include preventive, therapeutic and ambulatory services. This is under the slogan of (pilgrims health is our concern). MOH prepared 145 ambulances, and 24 Hospitals and 137 health care centers, located in the holy places and in Medina, that are equipped with the latest medical devices in addition to a highly qualified health staff. It has also been provided with all the medicines needed by pilgrims in addition to four medical evacuation flights runways, and four emergency plans.
Creating the Health Plan:
Ministry of Health participates in providing health services along with all governmental administrations and directorates according to a yearly health plan created according to the directions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques that concerns raising the level of preparation and health services provided to pilgrims, taking into consideration the health and climate conditions of all pilgrims' countries.
The Ministry has also created a health plan that focuses on many goals and group work based on accurate information and work plans, which result positively in a way that insures implementing the Ministry strategy and plan to achieve different stages and allocate all needed possibilities and capabilities. The Ministry preparations were about improving and developing all health facilities to serve pilgrims.
The Ministry strategy was set after an accurate review of the reports of different Hajj committees and sectors and put all notes, suggestions and needs in to study within periodical and annual planning and developmental programs for all health services through a comprehensive review of the Ministry's last Hajj plan to overcome and improve all aspects.
Health Monitoring and Oversight
Ministry of Health controls epidemics on an international level continuously, sets needed health requirements, and spreads health educational awareness of pilgrims. It has also increased preventive measurements starting from portals and equipped laboratory with the best techniques and equipments and the best professional staff.
That is to control epidemics and treat patients.
Early Prevention
The Ministry of Health is concerned about the safety and health of pilgrims through implementing comprehensive prevention plans to control epidemics according to International Health Regulations. That is in addition to its help in early diagnose of epidemics and take on preventive measurements rapidly; starting from their countries until leaving the kingdom. The plan also works on controlling and containing the spread of epidemics in Hajj and after it.
Workforce
The Ministry of Health has recruited more than (19) thousand male and female employees of doctors and technicians, nurses and officers to serve pilgrims and provide preventive and therapeutic services in various Hajj areas and roads. Comprehensive preventive plan was prepared to intensify health awareness campaigns.
Health…Hajj Supply
The Ministry of Health launched an awareness campaign under the slogan of (Health…Hajj supply), where the health awareness programs are implemented since they are in their countries. It includes health measurements and qualifications especially regarding common diseases. Copies of the program will be handled to be spread at embassies and KSA representatives all over the world in order to raise pilgrims' awareness.
10 Languages
Health awareness efforts continue when as soon as pilgrims arrive at the kingdoms different portals of (air, land and sea). Educational brochures were distributed on pilgrims, which are translated to more than 10 languages or on live screens available at the portals. The awareness efforts continued through all health facilities at the holy places, various transportation means, gathering places and camps by using different awareness means (display screens - mobile billboards in health facilities entrances - TVs - tapes in several languages –publications(brochures, posters) ).
800 Toll Free Number
A service provided to pilgrims on 8002494444 around the clock. It answers all pilgrims' questions, in addition to a service about health requirements that has to be fulfilled.
24 hours Service
The Ministry prepared (24) Hospital and (137) health centers in the holy places and Medina, including 14 hospital in Makkah. They were equipped with the latest medical devices and medications in addition to a highly qualified staff working to provide different health services, including the heart surgery and catheterization, dialysis, emergency medicine and field medicine.
Contingency Plans
The plan strategy is based on activating risk factors monitoring tools according to the changes and international and national events, working on finding ways and means to deal with it and annexing detailed plans of each contingency. The Ministry also implemented many ambulatory and emergency plans that enable it to predict the risks according to the changes and international and national events. The Ministry works with related authorities in preparing contingency plans to deal with emergencies that might occur during Hajj. The Ministry provides instant services and classifies disaster victims according to the international cards and medical administration at the medical evacuation site with the availability of medical staff of doctors, technicians and nurses.
The Ministry of Health equipped a fleet of ambulances where (50) large ambulance were operating, in addition to (95) small ambulance to provide field medical services and deal with emergency cases in the site. In addition, there are fully equipped medical teams for immediate intervention available in different holy places around Jamarat Bridge, as well as small ambulances and seasonal health centers. Namirah mosque and jamarat Bridge has a 24-hour field medical teams and small ambulances for narrow areas. Those teams are doctors, nurses with their medical equipments to deal with patients at the site.
Disaster Management Plans
Crises management specialists has prepared multiple emergency plans that includes a plan for the Jamarat Bridge on Eid and Tashriq days in preparation for the crowds, and plans for evacuation in case of an emergency and checking on the readiness and the implementation accuracy of its employees to carry out health facilities contingency plans and dealing with infectious diseases and epidemics , and Jamaraat Bridge and its leading roads, and the transporting of the pilgrims from Arafat and Jabal Al Rahmeh and the Central Region to Mina, that is by conducting many sudden experiments and setting a special plan for the Jamarat Bridge, in addition to the general emergency plans.