RIYADH,
January 17 (IslamOnline.net) - No cases of contagious diseases have
been reported so for among up to 500,000 pilgrims who have checked and
extra precautionary measures are underway to face any emergency, the
Saudi health minister said Friday, January 16.
Dr.
Hamad Al-Manie said each pilgrim has undergone a medical check at the
Kingdom's 24 entry points and receives compulsory vaccinations against
deadly infectious diseases like meningitis, reported Saudi Arab
News newspaper.
He
warned that cases of contagious illnesses would either be sent back to
their countries or quarantined in Jeddah.
The
Minister, however, said Chinese pilgrims will not be denied hajj this
year, despite the discovery of recent cases of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The
Minister made clear that citizens from SARS-stricken countries have
been already checked by special heat sensors upon their arrival at the
Saudi mainland.
Acting
on World Health Organization reports, Manie added, the Saudi
government has decided to ban pilgrims from Ebola-devastated Congo.
On
the medical infrastructure, he said that his Ministry has provided 20
hospitals, 188 health centers and 155 ambulances to serve the largest
gathering of people in the world.
Manie
stated that a large staff of Saudi and international medical
professionals is on call for emergencies.
He
elaborated that more than 9,500 doctors, nurses, paramedics and
administrative officers would be enlisted.
Additionally,
the Ministry has recruited 115 medical specialists and nurses from the
United States, Britain and Malaysia to work in emergency, intensive
care and anesthesia units, he added.
More
Facilitations
Saudi
authorities have further taken steps to make the holy ritual easier
for more that two million Muslims worldwide, the Saudi daily said.
In
anticipation of the rainy season, the Saudi government is improving
the infrastructure in Arafat with the governor of Makkah, Abdul
Majeed, inspecting the water drainage system for tents in the
mountainous area.
There
is also a lot of revamping and expansion of major roads and bridges
taking place to help ease traffic. A new charity kitchen in Arafat
mountain will also supply 800,000 meals daily.
And
for the first time ever, women officers will check women at various
checkpoints for proper documents and hajj permits.
