The Presidency of the Affairs of the Prophet's Mosque has initiated a new operational plan which will enable worshippers and visitors to perform their prayers in ease and comfort during the Holy Month of Ramadan, said Abdul Wahid Al-Hattab, Director of Public Relations at the Presidency. The plan includes an increase in the number of female inspectors, preachers conducting religious sessions and cleaning personnel, as well as an expansion of facilities and services provided to those who visit the Prophet's Mosque, Al-Hattab said. The presidency has hired 1,000 seasonal female inspectors to help its staff deal with the growing number of female worshippers and visitors, which it is thought will reach more than three million, he said. More preachers have also been engaged to hold religious teaching sessions to meet the demand of worshippers who seek to increase their understanding of Islamic issues, Al-Hattab said, adding that the number of copies of the Holy Qur'an available in the Mosque will be doubled. More supervisors have also been employed to monitor the cleaning operations in the Prophet's Mosque and Saudi Red Crescent teams will be available to handle emergency cases. Apart from this increase in personel, the Ramadan operational plan also envisages an increase in services provided to pilgrims. Al-Hattab said that 912 new toilets have been added to the already existing 2,100 toilets in the women's eastern yard in the Mosque, and that two extra offices which provide wheelchairs to special needs worshippers and visitors have been established in the northern and southern areas of the Prophet's Mosque. The Presidency has also increased the number of water coolers in all yards and has extended the working hours of the Prophet's Mosque Public Library in order to enable male and female worshippers and researchers to benefit from the reference material on different aspects of Islamic Shariah, he said. The visiting hours of women to Al-Rawda Al-Shareefa have also been extended, with women now being able to visit after the Fajr, Dhuhr and Isha prayers, he added. — Saudi Gazette/SPA FACT BOX n 1,000 seasonal female inspectors hired n More preachers engaged to hold religious teaching sessions n More supervisors employed to monitor the cleaning operations n Two extra offices for wheelchairs for special needs worshippers n The number of water coolers in all yards increased __
