MAKKAH — The Ministry of Health has established 65 field teams for to handle epidemic investigation in its hospitals in Makkah and other holy sites. Ministry spokesman Faisal Bin Saeed Al-Zahrani said the teams included specialists and consultants in contagious diseases. The 65 teams are part of a larger network of over 100 teams that the ministry has set up to provide preventive health services, including creating health awareness among pilgrims. "The ministry has adopted a number of precautionary measures and procedures to prevent the spread of epidemics during the Haj," he said. He said there are 33 teams in Makkah's hospitals including King Abdul Aziz, Al-Noor, King Faisal, Ajyad and the maternity and child hospital. "The ministry has assigned six epidemic investigation teams for the various Haj medical missions accompanying their pilgrims," he added. The spokesman said 18 of the teams would work in Mina's hospitals: Mina emergency, Al-Jiser, Al-Wadi and the New Street. He said the remaining 14 teams would be stationed in Arafat General Hospital, Namirah, East Afarat and Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital. Meanwhile, the armed forces' hospitals and clinics in the holy sites have completed all arrangements to provide medical services for pilgrims. The director of the armed forces' medical services, Maj. Gen. Solaiman Al-Malik, said their hospitals have almost 300 beds, 20 clinics, a pharmacy and a laboratory which have all been set up for handling pilgrims. There would be a special center for treating sun strokes and heat exhaustion, the official said. As part of the wider response to managing health issues during Haj, almost 40,000 pilgrims participated in a health awareness program launched by the department of health affairs in Jeddah. Assistant director general, Dr. Khaled Obaid Bawakid, said specialist doctors and consultants carried out the program at the Kingdom's various entry points.
