Saudi Arabia: ‘No outbreak of diseases reported’

Thursday 11 December 2008 (13 Dhul Hijjah 1429) Saeed Al-Khotani | Arab News

MINA: Health Minister Hamad Al-Manie announced yesterday that there was no report of outbreak of any infectious disease during this year’s Haj. “Speaking at a press conference in Makkah yesterday he said that the reports from field surveillance and followup activities showed that there was no outbreak of any infectious disease at the holy sites during the Haj. Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Mirghalani told Arab News that the prevention of infectious and communicable diseases would not have been possible without the efforts of Saudi diplomatic missions abroad that strictly implemented the Haj health requirements of pilgrims by working with health authorities in the countries where they are based. The Saudi missions abroad ensured that meningitis shots are taken by pilgrims and the requirement of flu vaccines was also met where necessary, he said. “Contributing to the success of this year’s Haj was the enormous resources the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had put at the disposal of the authorities to provide health care services during this Haj. These resources included mobilizing around 10,000 health care workers to serve pilgrims at 24 hospitals and 188 primary health care centers,” Mirghalani said. He said that Al-Manie discussed with Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal the preparations for the opening of King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) in Makkah, scheduled for the middle of 2009. “It is expected that the KAMC will begin to render medical services in the second half of next year,” said Mirghalani. The KAMC will have 1,500 beds at three hospitals on 250,000 sq. meters. There will be a 500-bed new specialist hospital; a 500-bed maternity and children hospital; and the 500 bed Al-Noor hospital that still exists and which will be part of the new city. The hospitals would be instrumental in treating future pilgrims at the holy city. According to Ministry of Health plan, the city will later develop into a regional center for excellence in health care provision as well as a medical tourism attraction spot for patients from outside the Kingdom,” Marghalani pointed out.