Saudi Gazette report
MAKKAH — A meeting of the Central Hajj Committee, chaired by Deputy Emir of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishaal, reviewed the progress of work of the General Directorate of Passports, Ministry of Health, and Saudi Red Crescent Authority in rendering the best possible services for the Umrah pilgrims. The meeting was held in line with the directive of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah, advisor to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and chairman of the Central Hajj Committee.
The meeting discussed follow-up of plans for the Umrah season and the necessary coordination and harmonization between the authorities to perform their duties in the required manner. The committee reviewed the work of the General Directorate of Passports, most notably receiving and welcoming pilgrims arriving from abroad through all the Kingdom’s ports, completing entry and exit procedures, and extending Umrah visas for specific cases. The committee was also briefed on the directorate’s plans and preparations for the peak Umrah season, including raising full readiness at all air, land and sea ports to ensure the speedy completion of pilgrims’ procedures by supporting them with qualified human resources, equipping all ports with nine types of modern and advanced technical devices and systems, such as computer, biometrics, mobile service platforms, security surveillance cameras, wired and wireless communication, translation, forgery detection, documentation camera, allocating qualified work teams that speak several languages, and benefiting from volunteer work in passport control halls to serve incoming pilgrims, which contributes to raising the level of quality of service provided to them.
The branch of the Ministry of Health in the Makkah region reviewed the readiness of its sectors and its most prominent works for the Umrah season of 1446 as 17 hospitals were equipped with a bed capacity of 4,560 beds, 13 primary health care centers, and 3 mobile clinics.
The plan is based on preparing hospitals with equipped medical facilities and high bed capacity, emergency management with advanced transportation mechanisms and an accurate triage system, implementing a clear and rapid referral plan for critical cases, applying strict standards for infection control and environmental health, operating health care centers to cover all central and northern regions, and preparing preventive medical teams for rapid intervention.
The meeting also reviewed the readiness of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, which includes equipping 93 ambulances, 939 personnel, 260 ambulance units, 25 golf carts, 9 disaster carts, 20 motorcycles, and 60 bicycles, while the number of volunteers in the Grand Mosque in Makkah reached 1,400 male and female volunteers. The committee also discussed the latest developments related to the Hajj plans for 1446, and discussed a number of other topics on the agenda and made the necessary recommendations regarding them.