Saudi health ministry manages to keep Haj free from diseases

Makkah: This year's Haj was safe and free from any contagious diseases, the Saudi Minister of Health said.

"All pilgrims are enjoying good health, thanks to Almighty Allah, and then the leadership of Saudi Arabia, headed by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz," Dr Hamad Al Manie announced in a statement.

"More than 10,000 members of the medical and non-medical staff under the ministry participated in making the ministry's Haj plan a resounding success."

Al Manie said that the Ministry had prepared a comprehensive preventive plan for prevention of epidemic quarantine diseases. The minister said the pilgrims were subjected to examinations at the kingdom's entry point to ensure that they are free from epidemic diseases.

Collaboration

Meanwhile, Dr Khalid Mirghalani, the official spokesman of the Health Ministry, said the Ministry had collaborated with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for ensuring the pilgrims' health safety during this year's Haj.

"There has been close cooperation and full coordination between the Ministry of Health and various international health organisations, particularly the WHO since the beginning of this year to follow up the latest developments in the global map of diseases," he told the Saudi Press Agency yesterday.

Dr Mirghalani said that cooperation between the Ministry and WHO in preventing pilgrims from prospective epidemic diseases is considered a distinct feature, especially through its regional office in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. "The Ministry's cooperation with WHO is being carried out through varied means including WHO's provision of information and global updates on infectious diseases to the Ministry."

WHO provided the Health Ministry with updates on emergence of epidemics in countries from which pilgrims come to Saudi Arabia, adding it also consult with the Ministry.