Medical teams to monitor pilgrims at Dubai airport
Doctors and nurses stationed at airport and thermal scanners have been reactivated
Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has put in place an emergency response plan for the more than 6,000 pilgrims who will be travelling to Makkah through Dubai International Airport.
More than 70 doctors and nurses have been stationed at the airport working on three shifts, said Dr Amer Al Zarouni, director of the medical centre at the airport.
The thermal scanners which had been put on standby for some time have also been reactivated and any pilgrim registering a body temperature of more than 38.5 degrees Centigrade, will be sent to the catchment area of the airport for treatment, the doctor said.
The medical equipment and staff are divided between Terminal 1 for the Saudi Arabian Airline passengers and Terminal 3 for passengers travelling on Emirates.
Cardiac arrests
Part of the emergency response is to watch for cardiac arrests, the doctor said. Many of the pilgrims are elderly and the excitement and the stress of the pilgrimage tells on their health.
Three vaccines are available free-of-charge for the pilgrims at the Airport: meningitis C, H1N1 and seasonal flu. The UAE government has made H1N1 vaccination mandatory for all pilgrims. "The vaccine is very safe," said the doctor.
The pilgrims will be educated on the need for a healthy diet and to practise good hygiene to keep germs away. Hajis are given booklets on how to perform the Haj and information on the new flu. "The Haj is very difficult and the pilgrims need to take care of themselves," he said.
The DHA will also provide pilgrims with vitamin C drinks.
Dr Shawqi Khoori, CEO of Rashid Hospital; Dr Younis Kazim, medical director and Yousuf Mohammad Ebrahim, director of administration and finance, inspected the airport facilities to oversee the functioning of the medical centre and ensure the preparedness plans are in place.
Haj ends with Eid Al Adha, which falls either on November 27 or 28, depending on the sighting of the Moon.
The pilgrims will be educated on the need for a healthy diet and to practice good hygiene to keep germs away.
