Makkah mobile stroke unit saves Ugandan pilgrim

Arab News

2 days ago

MAKKAH: A medical team stationed at the Grand Mosque in Makkah successfully intervened to save a Ugandan male pilgrim who suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage, the Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.
The pilgrim reportedly lost consciousness within the Grand Mosque due to the hemorrhage, prompting an immediate response from the specialized unit.
"The Ugandan pilgrim received critical treatment within an impressive 16 minutes — one-sixth of the internationally accepted standard time of 60 minutes for such cases," said the report, quoting the Makkah Health Cluster.
After getting emergency care, the patient was transferred to King Abdulaziz Hospital for further comprehensive medical treatment. He is now undergoing rehabilitation and expected to be discharged to complete his pilgrimage.
As part of Hajj preparations, a Mobile Stroke Unit affiliated with King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) is stationed at the Grand Mosque. The team is made up of a neurologist, cardiologist, respiratory therapist, emergency nurse, radiologist, and paramedic and equipped with advance diagnostic devices.
Each year, tens of thousands of Hajj pilgrims benefit from various healthcare services provided by health centers and hospitals in the holy sites.
Saudi Arabia deploys around 50,000 healthcare and other professionals to work 24 hours daily during Islam's most important gathering.
Last week, a medical team at the Eye Health Center of King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah saved the sight of an Egyptian pilgrim who experienced sudden vision loss.