MAKKAH: Hospitals and medical staff in Makkah and the holy sites are geared up for an expected three million pilgrims coming on Haj this year, according to Dr. Khalid Obaid Zafar, Director General of Health Affairs of the Makkah region and a member of the Central Haj Committee. In an interview with Saudi Gazette this week, Zafar said the hospitals are already fully operational. The facilities include King Abdul Aziz Hospital (272 beds), King Faisal Hospital (207 beds), Ibn Sina Hospital (200 beds), Maternity and Pediatric Hospital (300 beds), Hera General Hospital and Noor Specialist Hospital (526 beds in total). There have also been five specialist centers opened for the treatment of people with disabilities, acute kidney cases, poison cases, and a very special laboratory for all kinds of medical tests, which is operational 24 hours. Zafar said the government's medical plan this year includes the opening of seven hospitals in Mina and Arafat. In Mina, there are the Mina General Hospital, Mina Bridge Hospital, Mina Valley Hospital, Mina New Street Hospital; while in Arafat the hospitals include Arafat General Hospital, Mountain of Mercy Hospital and Nimrah Hospital. These hospitals are open 24 hours a day over the five days of Haj. Over and above this, there are 42 clinics in different locations in Mina and 32 clinics in Arafat. A fleet of ambulances is always ready for any emergency. If any patient needs special treatment, then Noor Specialist Hospital is available, said Zafar. He added that mobile dispensaries are also available for any form of emergency treatment. Zafar said pilgrims with the most ailments come from Egypt, Pakistan and India. Most of the visitors from these countries are 55 years of age or older and many are in average health and suffer from a number of chronic problems such as high blood pressure and various lung ailments. The Ministry of Health has given instructions to all the hospitals in Makkah to send the pilgrims being treated to Arafat in their Ihram in the ambulances. This is to ensure they do not fall behind in their duties for Haj. Arafat is considered the high point of Haj.
