UAE | Health
New Saudi Haj rules aim to combat H1N1
The Saudi Interior Ministry has announced new conditions for the Haj this year in the face of the threat of the H1N1 virus, Gulf News has learned.
- By Abdullah Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor
- Published: 23:49 September 9, 2009
- Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News archive
- Pilgrims prepare to leave for Haj. The Saudi Interior Ministry has issued new H1N1 regulations for Haj pilgrims.
Abu Dhabi: The Saudi Interior Ministry has announced new conditions for the Haj this year in the face of the threat of the H1N1 virus, Gulf News has learned.
A senior official at the Saudi Embassy said the ministry set new requirements for pilgrims and their home countries.
They include a valid certificate of vaccination against seasonal influenza two weeks before receiving a Haj visa, and submitting a certificate of H1N1 vaccination, if it becomes available before the Haj, also two weeks before receiving the visa.
Other conditions include conducting health awareness campaigns about precautionary measures against H1N1 in the pilgrims' countries, as well as advising the elderly, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women and children to postpone the Haj and Umrah in order to protect them.
The UAE's official agencies in charge of the Haj received confirmation from the Saudi ministries of Haj and Interior.
Dr Mohammad Mattar Al Ka'abi, Director General of the Islamic Affairs and Awqaf Authority, told Gulf News that they are working hard to provide the highest degree of safety, security and comfort to the UAE's official Haj mission, and the highest standards of health safety for all UAE pilgrims this year.
"We have received the new conditions and are committed to meeting them," Al Ka'abi said.
"The authority, in coordination with the ministries of Health and Interior and the National Higher Supervisory Committee to Combat H1N1 virus, set up joint committees to implement all conditions including vaccination and reserving an amount of H1N1 vaccine for pilgrims, if it arrives in the UAE," he said.
"We are also making sure that Haj missions do not include the elderly, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women and children," he added.
Meanwhile, the Supervisory Committee to Combat H1N1 virus on Tuesday reviewed an executive plan for the Haj and Umrah in a meeting chaired by Dr Hanif Hassan, Health Minister.
The Ministry of Health will coordinate with the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment, the medical mission and Haj operators to ensure the health and safety of pilgrims throughout the Haj journey, starting from their departure.
The plan aims to deliver the highest standards of safety against the disease to pilgrims from the UAE and those who mix with them before they depart, during the Haj rituals and upon their return home.
The Ministry of Health has introduced a compulsory health assessment and follow-up form for pilgrims.
Under the plan, professionals of the medical mission and medical teams escorting Haj operators will be trained on protocols of prevention and treatment of potential cases.
- With inputs from WAM.
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