Defense minister attends elite special forces exercise in Northwestern Region    Saudi Arabia to showcase culinary heritage at Taste of Paris 2025    Saudi Arabia fines eight foreign trucks for illegal goods transport in April    Saudi Arabia releases updated GDP data highlighting expanded non-oil sector contribution    PIF announces pricing of $1.25 billion international sukuk offering    GAMI is organizing Saudi pavilion at Athens International Defense and Security Exhibition    Businesses count costs as India and Bangladesh impose trade restrictions    Israel fires largely controlled after mass evacuations    Donald Trump looms large over Australia's election    Trump ousts Waltz as national security adviser, nominates him for UN post    Saudi economy posts 2.7% growth in 1Q 2025    New Parkinson's Pump therapy introduced at King's College Hospital London in Dubai First-of-its-kind treatment offers a new lease on life for the youngest Parkinson's patient in the UAE and MENA region    King Charles sends heartfelt message to fellow cancer patients    Al Nassr crash out as Kawasaki Frontale reach AFC Champions League Elite final    HR Ministry approves regulations for job ads and interviews in private sector    Saudi Transplant Congress discusses scientific advancements and innovations on organ donation and transplantation    Al Ahli stun Al Hilal to reach AFC Champions League Elite final    SR200,000 reward for each player of the Saudi club winning AFC Champions League title    William and Kate celebrate anniversary on Isle of Mull    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



WHO thanks Kingdom for success of Hajj season and commends its health and preventive measures
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 16 - 08 - 2019

The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health for successfully hosting the hajj season 1440/2019 without a single public health event or disease outbreak being reported among pilgrims performing the hajj.
In addition, WHO expresses its deep appreciation to all the health care heroes and volunteers for their dedication in providing health care services to 2.5 million pilgrims.
WHO deployed a team of experts to support the Ministry of Health and ensure public health preparedness measures to prevent any potential disease outbreaks.
Hajj 1440/2019 came at a time of numerous threats to global public health. WHO recently recognized the outbreak of Ebola as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), requiring a global response. Moreover, cholera, measles, polio and other infectious diseases are being reported from many countries participating in the hajj, highlighting the need for early detection of, and timely response to, public health emergencies. The Health Early Warning System (HEWS) tool was developed by the Saudi Mistry of Health in collaboration with WHO to facilitate detection and response. This year, more than 100 alert signals were detected through the new tool. All signals were investigated immediately, and appropriate interventions were then implemented.
Happily, none of the signals represented a public health emergency.
As part of the HEWS system, the health authorities issued daily situation updates, reflecting the Saudi authorities' strong commitment to transparency.
During the course of its mission, the WHO team visited health care centres and hospitals in Mena, Muzdalefa and Arafat to see first-hand the work done on the ground. Our field visits showed that the system is in place and functioning well.
The Saudi authorities were well prepared to prevent and respond to the risks related to mass-gatherings, such as heat illnesses and food poisoning. The high level of preparedness reduced the number of cases to the minimum, and no major health issues were detected among the pilgrims during this year's hajj.
WHO worked with the Saudi authorities to assess health facilities in the Holy Places using standard WHO tools. The results of this assessment will help the authorities to further enhance services and meet the needs of pilgrims.
We greatly appreciate the high level of coordination and collaboration that was adopted by all sectors throughout the hajj season. This collaborative, multisectoral approach was evident on the ground. All sectors worked beyond the call of duty, employing all resources and exerting all efforts to enable pilgrims with critical health conditions complete their hajj rituals. Air medical evacuation by different sectors was one of many examples.
WHO praises the effectiveness of the public health mitigation measures put in place by the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia to ensure a safe pilgrimage.
WHO and Saudi authorities call on all countries to commit to the Hajj-related health requirement and advices jointly provided and to remain vigilant and continuously monitor any public health threats that may be associated with returning pilgrims, and WHO will be working with all our Member States to strengthen their disease surveillance systems and enhance risk communications.
Finally, we wish all pilgrims a safe return home after concluding their spiritual journey in this year's hajj.


Clic here to read the story from its source.