Rabeah, Minister of Health, has directed King Saud Hospital here to receive any epidemic disease cases which may occur in the city in the next few weeks. King Saud Hospital was established earlier this year to receive N1H1 cases during the Haj season. As a result, it is fully equipped, has a specialized medical staff and is able to treat large numbers of patients. “This step was taken in order to reduce the pressure on other government hospitals and to be ready to receive epidemic disease cases in the coming few weeks,” said Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Jeddah Health Affairs. He added, “Jeddah is passing through a very critical period as a consequence of the recent floods, and we have great fear of the expansion of epidemic diseases.” Jeddah Health Affairs Management has issued a report about the number of patients still in hospital receiving treatment for flood-related conditions. “We are presently treating 682 persons who were affected by the floods. Twenty-nine of them are suffering from psychological disorders,” Badawood said. “Thirteen hospitals in Jeddah are ready to receive these patients and provide them with psychological support,” he added.
