UAE medical team supports pilgrims at holy sites
Monitoring health from start to finish
Dr Essam Al Zarouni, a member of the committee, confirmed that health monitoring begins before pilgrims leave the UAE and continues after their arrival in Saudi Arabia. This includes conducting medical examinations, administering preventive vaccinations, and offering health guidance to ensure that pilgrims perform their rituals safely.
Emergency and hospital care
Al Zarouni noted that in cases where a pilgrim's condition requires advanced care, they are promptly transferred to specialized hospitals in coordination with Saudi authorities. Even after the transfer, the committee's medical team continues to follow up on the patient's condition.
Promoting health awareness
The committee also prioritises health education, focusing on prevention of heat exhaustion, sunstroke, and respiratory infections. Pilgrims are provided with practical health tips and preventative measures to maintain their well-being and complete their Hajj rituals safely and comfortably.
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Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Over a million Hajj pilgrims gather in Makkah amid soaring temperatures, tightened laws
More than a million Muslim pilgrims poured into the holy city of Makkah ahead of the annual hajj, with authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal visitors. Officials have beefed up heat mitigation measures hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's hajj, which saw 1,301 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 Fahrenheit). Temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius this week as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings starts on Wednesday. The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. As of Friday, more than 1.3 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the multi-day pilgrimage, according to officials. This year, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024. Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square metres (12 acres), thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, Saudi Arabia's hajj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP last week. On Monday, with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius, the health ministry said 44 cases of heatstroke had already been treated. The latest artificial intelligence technology will also help monitor the flood of data and footage, including video from a new fleet of drones, from across Makkah to better manage the mammoth crowds. Despite the punishing heat, pilgrims were overjoyed as they arrived in Mecca. 'Very, very, very hot' "This is really a blessing from Allah," Abdul Majid Ati, a Filipino lawyer and Sharia counsellor, told AFP near the Grand Mosque. "We feel so peaceful and safe in this place." Abdulhamid, from Nigeria, said he was "very happy" to be performing his second pilgrimage in a row at just 27 years old. But the young man said he never walks out without his sunglasses, describing the temperatures in Makkah as "very, very, very hot". The rites in the holy city and its surroundings, which follow a lunar calendar, fall again this year during the hot month of June. Last year, most of the deaths were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to air-conditioned tents and buses. "They were caught by surprise because the intensity of the heat was so high that their adaptation measures failed," said Fahad Saeed of Climate Analytics, a think tank based in Germany. In the run-up to this year's hajj, Saudi authorities launched a widespread crackdown on unregistered worshippers, using frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts. Arrest and deportation Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota system and distributed to individuals by lottery. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the hajj without a permit — though they risk arrest and deportation if caught. Along with hefty fines, those found illegally entering Makkah during the hajj face a potential 10-year ban from Saudi Arabia. Large crowds at the hajj have proved hazardous in the past, most recently in 2015 when a stampede during the "stoning the devil" ritual in Mina, near Makkah, killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest hajj disaster. Saudi Arabia, which is home to Islam's holiest sanctuaries in Makkah and Medina, earns billions of dollars each year from the hajj and pilgrimages known as umrah, undertaken at other times of the year. The pilgrimages are a also source of prestige for the Saudi monarch, who is known as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah. For Mariama, a 52-year-old pilgrim from Senegal, the journey to Makkah has fulfilled a life-long dream. "I was dreaming about it, thinking about it every time to come here to do the hajj," she said.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
The Minister of Health confirms NUPCO's full operational readiness for the 1446 AH Hajj season
'Mawsool' service has been activated at Mina Emergency and Mina Valley Hospitals to streamline operations and enhance the efficiency of healthcare practitioners. 3 strategic logistics hubs and mobile warehouses activated by NUPCO in Arafat, Mina, and Al-Hada, enabling rapid delivery of medical supplies across the Holy Sites for pilgrims. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO), today announced its full operational readiness to support all entities within the healthcare ecosystem in Makkah and the Holy Sites, ensuring the continuous flow of medical supplies and enabling healthcare practitioners to serve pilgrims efficiently and effectively during the 1446 AH Hajj season. As part of a coordinated national effort, NUPCO works alongside the Ministry of Health and the broader healthcare ecosystem to ensure hospitals, clinics, and field units across the Holy Sites have uninterrupted access to essential medications and supplies. Using real-time tracking systems and rapid response mechanisms, the company continually monitors stock levels and dispatches replenishments to maintain required inventory thresholds. In preparation for Hajj, His Excellency the Minister of Health and chairman of NUPCO's board, Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, visited NUPCO's Arafat logistics center to review operational readiness and observe how medical supplies are staged and dispatched during peak demand. During his visit, he inaugurated the drone and helicopter fleet. The drones now reach six medical facilities across Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina in about six minutes, while helicopters serve helipad-equipped clinics in high-density areas, reducing overall delivery times. Alongside these new delivery capabilities, NUPCO is one of the key stakeholders supporting the recently launched smart health bracelet program. This wearable device tracks security personnel's vital signs and notifies response teams when intervention is required, enhancing the medical readiness of the broader healthcare ecosystem responsible for safeguarding pilgrims. Building on these innovative technologies, NUPCO has implemented its five-phase operational model, encompassing preparation, planning, execution, support, and evaluation, across all Hajj infrastructure. Over the pilgrimage period, the company has accounted for over 800 logistics trips to distribute more than 2,000 types of medical items across key healthcare facilities, ensuring each site is fully equipped and prepared for every medical need. A dedicated team of more than 180 field and support personnel will oversee last-mile distribution and emergency responsiveness, including the deployment of mobile medical support units to ensure rapid delivery in high-demand and remote areas. 'We are working closely with the Ministry of Health and our ecosystem partners to make sure all healthcare providers have the supplies they need to operate effectively and respond to any need that may arise during Hajj,' said Fahad Albuthi, Chief Operating Officer at NUPCO. 'Our warehouses are active, our fleet is fully deployed, and our teams are in position across the Holy Sites. Everything is in place to keep supplies moving and ensure that no medical facility is left unsupported.' NUPCO's preparations are part of a broader national effort to maintain public health and service continuity across the Holy Sites. By ensuring critical medicines and supplies reach their destinations, NUPCO supports healthcare delivery during one of the world's largest annual gatherings, aligning with Vision 2030's objectives to strengthen health ecosystem responsiveness and provide reliable, accessible care for residents and visitors alike. About NUPCO: The National Unified Procurement Company for Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and Supplies (NUPCO), a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), leads medical supply chain management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 2009, NUPCO aims to improve healthcare sector efficiency through unified procurement, inventory management, distribution, and integrated logistics services. The company delivers innovative solutions that advance the Kingdom's healthcare system and help achieve the highest standards of care.
Sharjah 24
2 days ago
- Sharjah 24
UAE medical team supports pilgrims at holy sites
Monitoring health from start to finish Dr Essam Al Zarouni, a member of the committee, confirmed that health monitoring begins before pilgrims leave the UAE and continues after their arrival in Saudi Arabia. This includes conducting medical examinations, administering preventive vaccinations, and offering health guidance to ensure that pilgrims perform their rituals safely. Emergency and hospital care Al Zarouni noted that in cases where a pilgrim's condition requires advanced care, they are promptly transferred to specialized hospitals in coordination with Saudi authorities. Even after the transfer, the committee's medical team continues to follow up on the patient's condition. Promoting health awareness The committee also prioritises health education, focusing on prevention of heat exhaustion, sunstroke, and respiratory infections. Pilgrims are provided with practical health tips and preventative measures to maintain their well-being and complete their Hajj rituals safely and comfortably.
