The World Health Organization (WHO) praised public health measures adopted by Saudi public authorities during the Hajj pilgrimage as highly effective.
It also revealed that it worked closely with the Ministry of Health in supervising, directing and counseling on appropriate public health awareness to prepare for and prevent the breakout of endemics.
Labeling civil workers and volunteers as healthcare heroes, the organization said health awareness measures spearheaded by the Ministry of Health helped in assisting and protecting over two million pilgrims this year.
It also expressed its sincere thanks and deep appreciation to all healthcare volunteers for their dedication to providing health services to more than 2.5 million pilgrims.
A team from the WHO had visited health centers and hospitals in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat, and learned about the work done on the ground by the ministry in detection and prevention measures of health emergencies, noting that the field visit proved that the early warning systems in place were functioning well.
The WHO, in a statement, explained that the Kingdom was well prepared to prevent and respond to the risks associated with rapidly expanding human populations, such as heat-related disorders and food poisoning.
This year's Hajj pilgrimage comes at a time many dangers haunting global public health.
The Ebola outbreak was recently declared a public health emergency on an international level which required a global response, as well as cholera, measles, polio and other infectious diseases, which continue to be reported by many countries whose citizens took part in the Hajj.
This highlights the need for early detection and timely response to public health emergencies.
More so, the WHO’s statement commended the high level of coordination and cooperation among all the Kingdom’s sectors throughout the pilgrimage, whereby fruitful efforts allowed pilgrims suffering from critical health conditions to perform the rituals smoothly.
