The National Guard Health Affairs installed a field hospital in Mina with a capacity of 35 beds fully equipped with the latest medical standards. In addition, it also set up camps in Arafat and Muzdalifah, as well as providing instruction services and awareness programs throughout the Hajj season. HE Dr. Bandar Al Knawy, the Chief Executive Officer, National Guard Health Affairs, President, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and General Supervisor, Royal Clinics clarified that the National Guard Health Affairs and all its various sectors are aiming to provide all available services and utilize all resources to facilitate all the possible means of comfort to the pilgrims so that they can complete their Hajj requirements without any disturbances or serious health problems.
Early this season, NGHA completed setting up Mina’s field hospital that had been designed from fireproof and heat resistant fiberglass which accommodates the climatic conditions. The hospital includes all medical equipment needed for emergencies, two intensive care rooms, outpatient clinics in various medical specialties, two pharmacies, a laboratory as well as rescue teams. It also includes support services such as dental clinics, Ob/Gyn and fully equipped minor surgery rooms. Moreover, in Arafah the NGHA camp aims to provide all treatment and emergency services for pilgrims, as well as various medical centers in Muzdalifah, and remaining holy sites which include general diagnostic clinics and a pharmacy.
A qualified team of Saudi physicians, pharmacists, technicians, and administrators will handle the operation of all these facilities day and night. In addition, hospitals, Ministry of Health care facilities, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, and the Department of Civil Defense medical evacuation planes have fully cooperated with these centers in order to provide optimum health services for all pilgrims, particularly when it comes to the medical evacuation where the NGHA is participating with ten well equipped teams in case of any emergency.
Furthermore, ten ambulances were well equipped with the latest means of communications in order to cover all accident scenes and to provide various first aid services in case of disasters.
Last but not least, the National Guard Health Affairs has always been keen on awareness campaigns, and on that note, the Public Relations and Media Affairs Department and the Department of Health Education Services will provide on-sight counseling services during Hajj season, as well as distributing publications, medical booklets, educational brochures to pilgrims in order to educate them of any health risks. There will also be an intensive awareness campaign managed by the Primary Health Care Department and represented by Community Medicine and Department of Infection Prevention and Control.