Jeddah Health Affairs Management has finished its preparations for the Haj season in Jeddah and all surrounding areas. Several procedures have been undertaken to provide a fast and efficient service to pilgrims. “We have canceled all vacations for medical staff whether in Jeddah, Rabigh or Al-Laith,” said Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs Management. “We will utilize this medical staff to help pilgrims in any way that we can.” According to Badawood, all non-urgent operations will be delayed until the end of the Haj season. “Starting from Saturday the 6th of December we will not accept non-urgent cases and cases that have no need for operations. This procedure will put in place not only in Jeddah, but also in Rabigh and Al-Laith,” said Badawood. Several improvements have been made in Jeddah governmental hospitals to receive urgent pilgrim cases from Makkah if needed, said Badawood. “More than 50 beds have been made available in intensive care departments in Jeddah government hospitals such as King Abdul Aziz Hospital, King Fahd Hospital, and Al-Thagher Hospital. These hospitals will be ready to receive urgent cases from Makkah,” said Badawood. During the last Haj season, several cases of premature birth occurred, so health affairs management has prepared for such eventualities. “We had many cases of pregnant women who gave birth prematurely while performing Haj. This occurs because of the great effort that women make during Haj. As a result, we have had to add large numbers of incubators to Al-Mesadiyah Maternity Hospital, and Al-Aziziyah Maternity Hospital, as well as to the private hospitals that will help the referred pilgrims for free, and be reimbursed by the Ministry of Health,” said Badawood. Beside these procedures, we have opened a new medical center in the pilgrim's city to conduct a primary checkup for pilgrims to ensure that they are free from disease, added Badawood. “We have provided the latest equipment to Rabigh General Hospital and Al-Laith General Hospital which are located on roads leading to Makkah,” he added. “Jeddah Islamic Port, and Pilgrim's City have been totally prepared for the Haj season.”
