DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the Ministry of Public Health and other partners will provide health services to Haj pilgrims.
Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) manages the Haj Medical Committee, which is responsible for planning, co-ordination and logistics of the massive and synchronised healthcare undertaking to provide medical services to Qatar’s pilgrims along holy routes that span four cities across Saudi Arabia.
Staff from HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), QRC and the ministry regularly undergo emergency preparedness training comprising real scenarios, drills, briefings and instructional courses to effectively prepare for any medical emergencies.
For over 10 years, Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi, Senior Consultant, Audiology and Medicine, HMC, has dedicated his time and effort, along with a group of clinicians from all healthcare sectors in Qatar, under the auspices of the Ministry of Awqaf, to ensure the Qatari delegation receives medical support during Haj, if needed.
“Helping people and being responsible for their safety and well-being during Haj is important to me. This is not a one-man show. Our integrated, clinical teams move with pilgrims along each step of their Haj journey — this includes doctors and nurses remaining with patients to provide treatment,” said Dr Hadi.
Specialist teams have developed plans on behalf of the Ministry of Public Health and activated ground support to facilitate operations ahead of the beginning of Haj. They deliver services and first aid kits to Qatari pilgrims and anticipate enough resources from HMC and sponsoring healthcare partners, including two ambulances from QRC, to support pilgrims if they become ill.
“We recognise that the risk of trauma and injuries is heightened with the influx of pilgrims to Makkah, and anything could potentially happen when over three million people gather in one place.
“We provided disaster training to participating HMC doctors, nurses, pharmacists and paramedics to mitigate risk and ensure the safe and effective management of delivering healthcare services for pilgrims who may suffer from respiratory illnesses, heat exhaustion, and other potential illnesses during the five-day rituals,” said Dr Hadi.
He stressed that pilgrims must take health precautions prior to travel and during journey.
“If upon return any pilgrim develops an illness and notices worsening symptoms, such as a fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius, a cough or breathing problems, they should immediately seek medical assistance from any urgent care centre, and the person should inform the treating physician about their recent Haj trip,” said Dr Hadi.
Last batch of Qatar’s pilgrims arrives in Makkah
Doha: The last batch of Qatar’s pilgrims arrived in Makkah by air on Monday night. Air flights for the pilgrims from Doha have begun to arrive since yesterday afternoon at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The pilgrims are divided over 10 campaigns, nine of which arrived by air. They were preparing to head to Mina to spend Saturday, corresponding to Dhul Hijja 8. Qatar’s Haj mission has completed preparations for pilgrims’ camps in Mina and handed them over to the campaigns. The mission will continuously ensure the pilgrims’ comfort.
The Peninsula
