The Pilgrims Affairs Office has revealed its readiness and early preparations to provide high-quality services and care for the country’s pilgrims in the holy lands, ensuring all their needs are met with responsibility, dedication, and sincerity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it has completed all arrangements to monitor pilgrims’ affairs, especially for senior citizens during the Hajj season. This includes preparations before their travel, assistance during the rites, and support upon their return home. The ministry updated its travel advisory page on its website and mobile application to provide accurate and updated information regarding necessary requirements. It also encourages pilgrims to register themselves or their families in the “Tawajudi” service through the website or app, and keep handy the emergency contact number for citizens: 0097180024, to ensure immediate assistance when needed.
Additionally, the ministry advised pilgrims to carry copies of their official identification documents to facilitate the issuance of a “Return Document” in case of loss, damage, or misplacement of their passports, which can be processed within 30 minutes.
Before the Hajj season, the Ministry of Health and Prevention initiated a unified communication campaign focused on health awareness under the slogan “A Healthy and Safe Hajj,” in collaboration with various health organizations in the country. This campaign emphasizes the essential health guidelines that pilgrims should adhere to before traveling, during their journey, and after returning.
The campaign includes a variety of services, such as providing a downloadable health guidance manual on the ministry’s website in multiple languages, as well as responding to health inquiries from pilgrims. Continuous communication with accompanying medical teams is also prioritized to furnish them with medications and medical consultations, along with psychological and advisory support.
Moreover, the campaign highlights the importance of receiving essential vaccinations prior to traveling, including meningitis, seasonal flu, and pneumonia vaccines, and promotes adherence to preventive guidelines throughout the Hajj period.
Ongoing Monitoring
Dr. Issam Al-Zarouni, a member of the Health Affairs Committee at the Pilgrims Affairs Office, confirmed that the committee monitors the health condition of the country’s pilgrims prior to their arrival in Saudi Arabia and during their stay. This includes conducting necessary medical examinations, providing vaccinations, and sharing guidelines on how to perform the rituals in a healthy and safe manner.
He stated that the committee includes a specialized medical team equipped with all necessary medical tools to deliver crucial healthcare in all holy sites, ensuring a sufficient supply of medications and medical solutions. If a pilgrim requires hospitalization, arrangements will be made to transfer them to one of the specialized hospitals in coordination with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia, with continuous follow-up by the medical team.
Comprehensive Plan
The General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments has announced a comprehensive plan to ensure that the country’s pilgrims can perform their Hajj rituals smoothly this year, which includes enhancing their understanding of the obligatory rites innovatively.
The office also disclosed that the departure of pilgrims and national campaigns from various airports in the country to Saudi Arabia has commenced. This coincides with the activation of the second phase of the approved medical procedures for the care of pilgrims during their stay in the holy cities.
The office reported that the first phase of the medical procedures was executed within the country and involved liaising with campaign doctors to compile comprehensive lists that categorize health conditions of each group, along with detailing chronic diseases, elderly persons, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. Additionally, campaign doctors were required to conduct awareness workshops tailored to the health status of each pilgrim and document these cases with updated medical reports, ensuring the adequacy and quality of medications as well as verifying that all candidates received appropriate vaccinations.
The office confirmed that the second phase, which began today, entails monitoring by the medical committee in the Pilgrims Affairs Office of the medical cases listed in each campaign, maintaining communication with campaign doctors to ensure adherence to procedures before the performance of rituals.
Furthermore, as the movement towards the rituals in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah begins, the medical committee is coordinating with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia to take advantage of all facilities and services provided by the Saudi authorities.
The office elaborated on the details of the third phase of the medical system, which begins with the movement towards the holy sites, involving specialized clinics for women and men in Mina, in addition to mobile medical teams that will move between the camps to provide support. Hotlines will be activated for immediate medical inquiries, along with the oversight role of field inspection teams to ensure compliance with medical standards across all campaigns.