Muslim Pilgrims' Health Reassuring, Says Aaudi Minister

Hamid Al-Sulami |

Arab News, November 24, 2009  

MAKKAH/MINA:

Only four Muslim pilgrims have so far died from swine flu, not 10 as reported in some section of media, the minister of health claimed on Monday.

“There are no new deaths among pilgrims because of swine flu beyond the four deaths which were already announced. There are also no other epidemics,” Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah told Arab News.

The minister said so far there are 70 confirmed cases of swine flu among Hajis but claimed they are all recovering and stable.

“The patients have been confined to hospitals and only one of them is in intensive care,” he said, hitting back at those who allegedly spread exaggerated rumors about pilgrims’ health. “The general health condition of all pilgrims is reassuring. There are no other pandemics. The Ministry of Health has mobilized all resources for the well-being of pilgrims,” he affirmed.

“We have taken all precautionary measures to protect Hajis against swine flu and other diseases under the directives of our leadership and in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization,” he added. The minister said 19 well-equipped health centers have been established in Makkah to receive suspected and confirmed swine flu cases.

He added that a special laboratory would be set up in Arafat to test those who may have caught the virus 9 km away from Makkah where pilgrims stand from dawn to dusk at the climax of Haj.

There will also be a 57-bed quarantine section there, he said. In total, there are 14 similar laboratories around the Kingdom.

Al-Rabeeah revealed that BCR tests are in place to fight the renewed H1N1 virus at Mina Al-Wadi (valley) Hospital and said three diagnostic labs have been set up in Makkah, one in the holy sites.

He said the ministry has provided 14 hospitals in Makkah and the holy sites with a total of 2,782 beds, 244 intensive-care beds, and 287 emergency beds. In addition, there are 10 hospitals in Madinah as well as 136 health-care centers spread all over key Haj locations.

The minister said there were 35 permanent health centers in Makkah, nine seasonal centers along the Makkah-Madinah express road and four health facilities inside the Grand Mosque.

There are also 28 centers in Mina, six in Muzdalifah and 46 in Arafat, he said.

He added there are 10 general hospitals in Madinah containing 1,170 beds, four seasonal health centers in the central area around the Prophet’s Mosque, seven along the axial roads and five at pilgrim accommodations.

According to the minister, a total of 17,609 medial staff consisting of doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators are providing services to pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the head of the Haj preparatory committees at the Ministry of Health dismissed rumors pilgrims purchased false swine flu vaccination certificates to enter the Kingdom. “Such rumors simply are not true, because we never asked pilgrims to have certificates as a prerequisite for obtaining Haj visas,” Dr. Yakoob Al-Mazrou’a told a press conference at the MoH’s headquarters in Mina on Sunday.

“Because the safety of pilgrims is the top priority of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government, the MoH, as well as all other government agencies, do not spare any effort or resources to act on this priority,” he said.

“The number of our health-care and administrative personnel at all key ports was increased. Around 580 staff who are specially trained to identify suspected cases of swine flu, were mobilized at the two major points of entry for the majority of pilgrims, 450 at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and 130 at Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah,” he pointed out. Dr. Al-Mazrou’a said all hospitals and over 140 health-care centers throughout the Kingdom have been provided with the swine flu vaccine to administer to any citizen or resident intending to perform Haj.

He expressed the Kingdom’s hope to have overall control on the health situation during Haj, specifically with regards to any outbreak of swine flu, whilst acknowledging the efforts of other countries to protect pilgrims before they leave.

“For sure, the response of these countries, either by vaccinating their pilgrims prior to departure or preventing at-risk categories from entering Saudi Arabia, or through the cooperation of their respective health missions in isolating suspected cases at their camps until they are handed over to the Ministry of Health, will be of great help to achieving that objective,” he said.

— With input from Saeed Al-Khotani