The National Guard has set up a special field hospital in Mina made from fireproof fiberglass and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to treat Haj pilgrims. It consists of 40 beds in two sections, for women and men. It can deal with a broad range of cases including pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, dentistry, surgery and radiology. It also has a pharmacy and laboratory. The hospital is staffed 24 hours a day by Saudi doctors and nurses. In addition, the National Guard's Health Affairs hospital (NGHA) has two medical vehicles with a total of 20 beds. It is equipped with a full array of medical equipment in Muzdalifah and Arafat. The NGHA registers each of its cases with the Ministry of Health so that accurate statistics can be kept. Dr. Bandar Al-Qanawi, Executive Manager for the NGHA and Manager of King Saud Bin Abdualaziz University for Medical Sciences, said that the hospital has powerful air conditioning systems and a big umbrella to protect pilgrims from the heat and sun. He added that the hospital coordinates its activities with other medical groups and hospitals to deal with critical cases.
