World Health Organization praises Saudi Arabia's performance at Hajj celebration
The WHO (World Health Organization) has praised the performance of the Saudi Arabian government institutions in the celebration of the most attended Hajj in the last five years. The coordination between the police, medical personnel and those in charge of maintaining order was one of the keys that the administration wanted to highlight.
"WHO congratulates the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leadership on the success of this year's Hajj season," Ahmed al-Mandhari, the agency's regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
Controlling nearly 2 million people in the weather conditions over the days of the event was a major concern for organisers and the Kingdom's government. The Hajj is one of the most important celebrations for the Muslim believer who must complete it at least once in a lifetime.
Knowing this for the safety of those who attended, the Kingdom received more than 7,600 requests from volunteers who offered to provide both health and information assistance during the 5 days. Support was also received from the private sector. The Scouts provided cold drinks for attendees and companies such as Almarai provided food for anyone who requested it.
Dr. Abdullah bin Suleiman al-Fahd, general supervisor of Service Camps in the Kingdom, explained that the scouts use the indicative maps produced by the association, who made available more than one million maps that were distributed to the pilgrims. In addition to the electronic application of the map and its presence in large sizes on plaques and other places in Mina, the slogan for Hajj 1444: "I help you from afar" could be read in this year's camps.
"It is a privilege to help the pilgrims. To make sure they are taken to hospital immediately, we have been on duty and working every day," Ammar Osamah, a Saudi paramedic, who said that, due to the extreme heat, there have been numerous cases of heat stroke. The young Saudi Scouts present are excellent for pilgrim visitors from the Kingdom. As the Hajj approaches its hottest point, they are handing out water," he added.
According to the Ministry of Health, it was the largest and hottest Hajj gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with 6,500 people receiving treatment for heat stroke. High temperatures of over 40°C have been the only impediment the authorities have had to deal with. Around 32,000 people were helped with health-related problems during Hajj, the ministry added. The centre monitored the number of hospital beds, medical equipment, ambulance activity and conditions that were diagnosed, which helped make broader decisions about services.
A Saudi Arabian official visited the health command and control centre in a video shared by WHO. "I was very impressed by what I saw at the command and control centre, where 59 dashboards show all Hajj-related operations from start to finish, including emergency operations, medical facilities, hospitals, surgeries and many other functions," said Dr Adham Ismail, WHO's Saudi Arabia representative.
In addition to the World Health Organization, leaders from around the world sent a message of congratulations to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the spectacular numbers achieved at the Hajj.