MADINAH — A convoy of ambulances from the Ministry of Health will leave Madinah early Tuesday from Al-Miqat Hospital carrying sick patients to Mina at the start of their Haj rites. The patients, whose health conditions would allow them to perform the Haj, have been confined to a number of hospitals in Madinah including King Fahd, Al-Ansar, Uhud and the Miqat Hospitals. Director of King Fahd Hospital in Madinah Dr. Abdul Hameed Shahhat said 32 male and female sick pilgrims were admitted to the hospital. He said they were admitted for a number of diseases including bone fractures, renal failures, chest pains, stomach troubles and other illnesses. Shahhat said the sick pilgrims hailed from 17 countries, including the US, Britain, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Morocco, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Tajikistan, Sudan, India, Bangladesh, Mauritania, Cameroon and Nigeria. “A total of 111 sick male and female pilgrims admitted to hospitals in Madinah will be able to perform Haj. There are 10 patients still being confined to hospitals. Some of them are in the intensive care units,” he said. Director of the department of health affairs in Madinah Dr. Abdullah Ali Al-Taifi said in addition to the ambulances, the caravan would also include supply cars carrying food for the sick pilgrims in addition to other cars carrying oxygen cylinders. “Each patient will be transported in a separate ambulance manned with qualified doctors and nurses in addition to the required medical equipment,” he said. The caravan will start its journey to Mina at 9 a.m. — SG
