MAKKAH — The Al-Sharie Al-Jadeed (New Street) Hospital in Mina is well-equipped to provide round-the-clock medical services to the pilgrims who usually stay about five days in this suburban area which is about five km away from Makkah. "The hospital is quite ready to provide its curative and preventive medical services to the guests of God," the hospital's Director Dr. Khaled Al-Shahrani said. "The pilgrims' health is a priority for the easy and comfortable performance of their Haj rituals," he added. The hospital is one of four facilities providing health services to the pilgrims during the Haj period. The three others are: Mina General Hospital, Al-Jisr (Bridge) Hospital and Al-Wadi (Valley) Hospital. There are 15 hospitals in Makkah also serving the residents, visitors and pilgrims during the Haj in addition to 175 health centers. Makkah has 75 health centers, Arafat 46, Mina 40 and Muzdalifah six. Shahrani said the hospital has a capacity of 50 beds of which 16 are in the intensive care unit and seven dedicated for patients suffering from heat exhaustion or sunstrokes. He said the hospital also has a kidney dialysis unit consisting of four highly-efficient machines. Shahrani said there are 11 outpatient clinics in the hospital in addition to a clinic for preventive medicine and infection-combating. It also has an endoscopic unit. He said the hospital has a manpower of 280 doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators who are all well-trained on dealing with emergency cases. The director said the hospital has all the required support units including a laboratory, a pharmacy and an x-ray section.
