Mane', the Minister of Health, has said that the ministry has completed all preventive, curative and emergency preparations to receive pilgrims in implementation of directives of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz. Dr. Hamad said that the ministry has provided 138 health centers and 24 hospitals with 3,939 beds and health services for pilgrims. The ministry has also provided 14,000 units of blood and its products. The ministry has hired 100 doctors from Pakistan and Jordan and 247 nurses from Malaysia. Regarding preventive medicines, Dr. Hamad said the ministry monitors the epidemiological situation and develops the necessary health requirements and instructions in addition to spreading health awareness among pilgrims. The ministry has also increased the preventive actions at the ports, he added. Dr. Hamad also said all needs of medical equipment and supplies and medicines were secured in Makkah and the holy sites. He pointed out that the ministry has discussed all disadvantages that were noticed during the Haj season last year and carried out many development projects at the holy sites. He stressed that attention is focussed on contingency plans as well as addressing congestion and stampedes over Jamrat bridge in addition to emergency evacuation plans. Dr. Hamad said that efforts to raise awareness among pilgrims should continue during Haj season through all health facilities at the holy sites, pointing out that pilgrims' service has been activated on 8002494444 through which all inquiries about performing Haj are answered around the clock. Meanwhile, a health center will be opened at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah to provide health services to incoming and outgoing pilgrims, said Khaled Bin Obaid Zafar, Director General of health affairs in Makkah province. Zafar said Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, would inaugurate the center. He added that the center would give vaccinations to incoming pilgrims who were not immunized in their home countries. Last year more than 1.5 million pilgrims entered the Kingdom through KAIA.
