His Excellency the Minister of Health, Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, extended his deepest thanks, appreciation, and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, May Allah protect him, for his patronizing of the inauguration ceremony of laying the foundation of many health projects.
During the greeting ceremony the Ministry had at the MOH's Auditorium on Saturday morning, Dr. Al-Rabeeah said, “It is a great honor to the Ministry of Health, all its employees, and health sector had by the condescension of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to patronize the inauguration ceremony and to lay the cornerstone for many of the important health projects in a number of our dear Kingdom's regions. Its total cost stands at RS 12,084,987,421.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Al-Rabeeah pointed out that the encouraging words of the Custodian of the Two Holy during the inauguration had a great impact on all the MOH's employees, and it is accolade we take pride upon it. Hence, it is the best motive for all of us to exert a lot of efforts to carry out the high royal directives in service of this giving country and its faithful citizens. And we pledge the Almighty, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to exert more efforts.
Furthermore, Dr, Al-Rabeeah referred that the Ministry has provided distinctive medical services, to the effect that those who have been served reached 504,071. Also, the field medicine provided medical services for 16066 pilgrims, who were treated in the field. And as many as 4514 were hospitalized. In addition, during this year's Hajj season special operations were conducted bigger than the past year to the point that the pilgrims' cardiac catheterization operations reached 463 operations, in addition to conducting 42 open-heart operations. And the dialysis sessions reached 3112 sessions; and 32 endoscopic operations as well as 10 births were conducted.
And he went on adding that during the last two days Riyadh and Eastern region went through two great tragedies, to the effect that His Excellency extended his solace and condolences to the Martyrs' relatives, who met their end at these two regions. He also confirmed that the injured receive distinctive medical care. On the other hand, the total of those who were injured at the gas truck explosion reached 133 injured persons, and 22 persons met their end. Whereas 90 persons recovered and discharged from the hospitals and they are in a good condition. Currently, there are 43 persons hospitalized; of which there 15 Saudis, and 28 non-Saudis. And there are 10 persons detained at the Intensive Care sections; of which there are 5 Saudis and 5 non-Saudis.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah went on to say that in spite of these tragedies, the health sector must perform its duty and its constructive role; calling on those who work in the health field to exert efforts and double them in order to meet the ever-growing requests to the health sector.