As part of the Ministry of Health (MOH) early preparation for the 1435H-Hajj season, His Excellency the Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development and Chairman of the Hajj Preparatory Committees, Dr. Muhammad Khoshaim, has chaired the third meeting of the Preparatory Hajj Committees. The meeting was held at the MOH headquarters and was attended by the members of committees and the Directors General of Makkah and Madinah Health Affairs.
Dr. Khoshaim has pointed out that this meeting comes in continuation of the previous meetings of Hajj committees, and under the direct follow-up and supervision of His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah.
“The Ministry is working by leaps and bounds to equip its facilities in early preparation for this year Hajj season; as part of its endeavors to serve the pilgrims, provide health services for them, and maintain their health and safety, as well as protecting them against diseases, Allah willing,” said Dr. Khoshaim, adding that this step comes in implementation of the gracious directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allah protect him, to harness all capabilities for pilgrims to perform their rituals easily and conveniently.
Within the same vein, the meeting has tackled a number of topics on the agenda, including the workflow and accomplishments of this year Hajj projects in the Holy Sites, the provision of equipments, and the medical and non-medical replacement. The meeting reviewed also some reports provided by the Hajj Preparatory Committees, such as the Projects and Engineering Affairs Committee and Supportive Technical Services Committee.
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Health has provided distinguished medical services for the pilgrims during the past year; to the effect that the total number of those served in hospitals and health facilities all over the Holy Sites reached 1,205,880 pilgrims, while 4,015 patients have been hospitalized. Furthermore, specific surgeries have been conducted, including 459 cardiac catheterization operations, 22 open-heart operations, 1,624 dialysis sessions, and 106 endoscopy operations.