His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, has affirmed that the pilgrims' health status is very secure and satisfactory in the Holy Sites (in both Makkah and Madinah), and that no epidemic or contagious disease cases have been recorded among them, hoping that this Hajj season (1432) would be as successful as last season, without any epidemics.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah made this announcement on Wednesday during the inauguration of the Oncology Center in King Abdullah Medical City, Jeddah, in the attendance of a constellation of undersecretaries and other eminent officials.
Following the cutting of the ribbon, two young girls of those who had been granted recovery gave the Minister a present as an expression of gratitude for the pivotal role the Center played in treating them. And it followed that Dr. Al-Rabeeah made a tour through Center's various sections (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, Prophetic medicine treatment, etc), and checked on the high-tech medical equipment and appliances intended for the service of patients.
After that, Dr. Al-Rabeeah checked on the health condition of inpatients and the health services provided for them. He also gave them gifts and flowers, wishing speedy recovery for all of them. Then, he opened the building of outpatient clinics annexed to the Center, toured through the clinics, and met with the doctors and physicians working there.
After listening to a Quranic recitation at the beginning of the opening ceremony, Dr. Hassan Salem Ba-Khamis, the Executive Director of King Abdullah Medical City, in Makkah, gave a speech on the Center and what has been accomplished throughout the past eight months. For the sake of clarification, he pointed out the Center has been moved to King Abdullah Medical City, its facilities and equipment have been renovated, and its medical and technical staff have been developed, in order for the Center the best in treating tumors in the whole Middle East.
Besides, Dr. Ba-Khamis expressed his pleasure that the Center has won the second place throughout the Kingdom in treating tumors, and hoped to move forward to the first place in providing the best curative services for as much patients as possible.
Dr. Ba-Khamis made clear that the ultimate objective of the Center is to relieve the patients' suffering, and help them overcome the obstacles impeding them, in line with the Ministry's endeavors to make available of all medications and equipment that make the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' word “Nothing is more important than citizens' health” come true.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Health expressed his pleasure with what he witnessed in the Center, by saying, “We are happy with the expansion and development of the Center intended to upgrade its services provided in King Abdullah Medical City, and provide high-quality services (third and fourth levels of quality) for patients frequenting the Center. The Center, having undergone such expansion and development, will undoubtedly cover a larger number of patients, thus making them in no need of travelling to any other hospital.”
In addition, Dr. Al-Rabeeah affirmed that the Ministry of Health has many medical projects underway. Meanwhile, the Ministry seeks to provide advanced and highly equipped facilities, pointing out that there are a number of projects in the north and south of Jeddah Province, on which work is progressing in full swing, hoping that the completion of work will be during the forthcoming two years, as planned, so as to be ready for providing the best curative services for patients, with the help and guidance of Allah.