Seven hospitals with a capacity of 1,623 beds and fully equipped with all modern health facilities have been earmarked to cater to the needs of expected three million pilgrims this year. Over 2,000 paramedical staff including specialists would provide health services to the pilgrims at these hospitals, Dr. Khalid Bin Obaid Zafar, head of the health affairs directorate the Higher Haj Committee, told Saudi Gazette here on Thursday. Besides, he said, about 75 dispensaries in and around Makkah shall remain open to give medical assistance and free medicines to the pilgrims. Four dispensaries have been set up at the Grand Mosque, one each on King Abdul Aziz and Umrah gates and two on the first and second floors of Ajyad gate, he said. Similarly, steps have been taken to ensure the health and safety of the pilgrims in holy sites. Mina Valley, where the pilgrims will stay for three-four days has four general hospitals including one for treating emergency cases. The combined strength of these hospitals is 569 beds. The entire Mina area has also been provided with 44 health centers, out of them 15 are around the Jamrat area. Arafat has three hospitals, Arafat General Hospital, Jebel Rahma Hospital and Nimrah Hospital. These hospitals have 577 beds. Medical services will also be provided in 46 dispensaries around Arafat. added Dr. Khalid. A fleet of 100 ambulances will attend all calls round the clock from Dhul Hijjah 7 to 12. The Makkah Health Directorate has also arranged mobile dispensaries to treat emergency cases in the holy sites. Civic authorities have also opened polyclinics at Jeddah seaport and King Abdul Aziz Airport. Dr. Khalid added that on quite a few occasions severe cases have been referred to Jeddah hospitals. He said Jeddah has 13 hospitals with 2,230 beds. Similarly the sick pilgrims coming from Qarn-al-Manazil are attended at Sail-al-Kabeer and severe case are taken by ambulances to the hospitals in Taif. Taif has 11 hospitals with 1,820 beds. All the hospitals in Makkah, Jeddah and Taif have consultants and surgeons in all the fields of medicine and surgery. Located close to the Grand Mosque is Ajyad General Hospital which faces a very heavy influx of sick visitors and attends to about 10,000 patients daily. It has a special emergency ward for women. The patients requiring long term treatment are transferred to Noor Specialist Hospital. Dr. Khalid said around 5 percent of patients are kept in the 18-bed intensive care unit. Another cardio vascular unit for intensive care in this hospital keeps watch on severe heart cases. As and when required they are referred to Noor Specialist Hospital. – SG __
