A new health center has come up in the Pilgrims' City (Madinat Al-Hujjaj) adjacent to King Abdul Aziz Airport here. Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Jeddah Health Affairs Department inaugurated the center on Wednesday in the presence of Dr. Khalid Thefr, Director of Makkah Health Affairs Department, Abdul Ghani Al-Malki, manager of the new health center, and Abdul Rahman Al-Sahafi, Public Relations Manager in the Jeddah Health Affairs Department. The center will start receiving the pilgrims upon their arrival in Jeddah en route to Makkah. The new center would facilitate the treatment of a large number of pilgrims including those suffering from chronic diseases, Badawood said. The center consists of three medical clinics and a laboratory equipped with latest equipment to give accurate pathological results in record time, added Badawood. Several rooms have been put at the disposal of the patients for both short and long stay. Medical groups would work round the clock at the Pilgrims' City to provide the needed health care facilities to the pilgrims, Badawood said. Al-Sahafi, Public Relations Manager in the Jeddah Health Affairs Department, said the center was the fruit of long preparatory discussions between the doctors and professors associated with the Health Affairs management. He said the center is equipped with most modern gadgets to provide quality health care to the pilgrims. “Our focus now is to make periodic tours of different medical centers both in Jeddah and in Makkah,” added Badawood. Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Mane' has announced the allocation of SR100 million for medical services during this year's Haj season. Besides, he said, over 10,000 male and female employees of the ministry have been mobilized to provide medical services to the pilgrims. At a press conference in Riyadh after chairing a meeting of Haj health committees of his ministry, he said a new service has been introduced this year to inquire about patients through the ministry's website or a toll free number 8002494444. He said 24 hospitals with a capacity of 2,939 beds are ready for the pilgrims in holy sites and Madina. Moreover, 124 health centers have also been set up for the purpose, he said. – SG __
