MADINAH – Bandar Hajjar, Minister of Haj, said that the matter of fake Haj companies has been forwarded to the Control and Investigation Department for further investigation. Speaking during a tour of the Umrah Pilgrims Service and Guidance Centers operated by the Ministry of Haj in Madinah, Hajjar said the Ministry is conducting a series of studies to look into the spiraling prices of Haj and Umrah services. He also stated that Prince Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, stressed at a meeting of the Higher Haj Committee the government's resolve to provide top services to Umrah pilgrims whose numbers have reached 5.3 million this year, a number expected to grow as Ramadan progresses. The ministry if providing various services including medical assistance, operation of a lost and found station and golf carts to help the elderly and handicapped get around the Grand Mosque. Meanwhile, the Civil Defense announced its medical teams are fully-prepared to respond to medical cases among pilgrims during the remaining days of Ramadan, said Maj. Gen. Nawar Al-Osaimi, director of safety department. “Our teams are ready to respond to any critical cases that happen due to overcrowding, tiredness or chronic medical disorders." The plan focuses on providing urgent medical care to anyone who needs it anywhere in the Grand Mosque and outside as well. Teams will respond to cases immediately and there are three locations that have been selected inside the Central Area for medevac vehicles and equipment. Those who need medical services will be treated on site. If the cases require urgent medical treatment, they will be transported to hospitals. So far no medical evacuations have been registered, said Maj. Gen. Al-Osaimi. “Our teams provided first aid services to diabetic patients and those who had low blood pressure or fever." – SG
