The Haj this year has been free from epidemic and other dangerous diseases, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health, told a press conference here Tuesday. He said the Ministry of Health has used all its available expertise and resources to ensure the health and safety of millions of pilgrims. This has been done in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The ministry conducted strict monitoring of pilgrims at all air, land and sea checkpoints to detect anything that might have presented a health threat. A total of 365,777 pilgrims were given preventive therapy for meningitis, 532,400 were administered the oral polio vaccine and 200,000 were inoculated with the yellow fever vaccine. This vaccine was given to targeted groups of pilgrims from abroad. In addition, for the first time ever, the ministry introduced specialized therapeutic services for angiography, open heart surgery and endoscopy. It also set up laboratories to test for viruses and expanded its hemodialysis services. This improved medical services during Haj. He said the field medical teams have succeeded in reducing the rate of referral to health centers, with 3,500 pilgrims given treatment in the field. Al-Rabeah also praised the work of the WHO representatives who worked at the holy sites. He said the ministry benefitted considerably from their comments and input, which will help improve services next year.
