Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The reports from pilgrims who were fortunate enough to perform Haj this year have all been positive so far. Happily, those of us back in Jeddah have been hearing only good news. Loved ones who went for Haj attest to organized traffic, countless guides and scouts that are helping to direct pilgrims, smooth flow and movement of pilgrims from one sacred point to another, cleanliness, better access to washrooms, pleasant weather, and wide availability of Zamzam water and food. Radi Zean, college student, called his mother to put her worried heart to rest and assure her, “This year's Haj was much easier and safer than when I performed Haj around five years ago. My feelings on the day of Arafat were indescribable. I felt closer to Allah, and I supplicated profusely for myself, my family, friends and the Syrian people who have been suffering for close to two years. We were in Muzdalifah well before midnight whereas in previous years due to clogged streets it was impossible for buses to arrive in Muzdalifah before 2 a.m.” Similar stories of this year's indisputable success of Haj are not only accredited to the tremendous work on the part of the Saudi government, but also to the efforts of dedicated, self-sacrificing volunteers who live in the Kingdom and call it their home, even if they are not Saudi. Volunteering, helping and educating pilgrims, and treating the sick are not limited to men only, as a group of amazing women have been traveling from Jeddah to the Holy Ka'aba and back every day to serve pilgrims, from the 6th of Dhul Hijja and will continue their work until the 12th of the blessed Hijri month. Some of the volunteers are Saudi; others are Syrian, Egyptian and Jordanian. A team of 54 remarkable women named themselves Zubaida Volunteers and their goal is to provide medical aid, first aid, and other services to pilgrims who need assistance in the Grand Mosque. They target especially women in order to protect the privacy of Muslim women and facilitate communication between the patient and medical staff. The Zubaida team members received official medical training and they work as a branch of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority. Enas Sindi, the director of Zubaida and a fourth-year medical student at Ibn Seena College in Jeddah, told Saudi Gazette: “Usually, it is only male paramedics and volunteers who are present to assist pilgrims in emergencies, such as an injury, fainting, or heat stroke. And this situation can be embarrassing for female pilgrims and it is difficult to find women who have a background and knowledge in the medical field to extend help. The majority of Zubaida volunteers comprised medical students, doctors and other women who have been certified in CPR and first aid. Additional volunteers who accompany the medical team are responsible for documenting cases, collecting data, and conducting electronic surveys so that we can determine the most common needs of pilgrims in order to improve our services in coming years.” The female paramedics are equipped with gauze, bandages, disinfectants, and some medications. Zubaida team members also carry an electronic dictionary in seven different languages so that they can try to understand and communicate with women who have come from all areas of the world. “So far, we have treated several cases of severe cough, influenza, headaches, and some cuts and bruises. For influenza, we can dispense anti-histamines, pain relievers and cough medications to relieve flu symptoms and allow pilgrims to more comfortably resume their rituals. There were also a few incidents of fainting, dizziness, cuts, and scrapes. Wearing our bright orange vests makes us easily recognizable and we have received many pleas for help from women in distress,” said Enas, after her third day of volunteer work in Makkah. The volunteers assist in transferring pilgrims to the nearest medical center if the case requires more advanced medical attention, such as those who have endured fractures, heat stroke, or other serious conditions. Experience has shown Enas firsthand the most common health problems that arose among pilgrims this year. She advises all pilgrims especially those with already existing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease to take their medications regularly and uniformly. “Due to the passionate emotions and spiritual elevation of this precious time, pilgrims become so mentally occupied that they actually forget to take their medications on time, and this results in several problems. I recommend all pilgrims to eat well and nourish their bodies so that they can withstand the intense physical exertion that the pilgrimage entails. I strongly urge women to wear thick socks when in the Grand Mosque because all of the cuts and scrapes on feet that we have treated could have been easily avoided by simply wearing socks,” added Enas. The brain behind the volunteering initiative is Dr. Asmaa Al-Rifaei, who works in the field of family medicine at the National Guard Hospital in Jeddah. Al-Rifaei drew her inspiration and chose the name of the team from Zubaida, the wife of the great Abbasid Caliph Harun Al-Rasheed. She was known for building the Ain Zubaida Spring to secure water supply to Makkah for the comfort of the increasing number of pilgrims. “Following her example and to let her legacy live on by reinforcing women's roles in serving pilgrims, we named our volunteer medical team after Queen Zubaida,” said Enas. All 54 members of Zubaida greatly enjoy their work, they are enthusiastic about returning to Makkah next Haj season, and they seek in return only rewards from Allah. They are living proof of the following the Chinese proverb: If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.
