Grand Mosque's Mobile Stroke Unit Saves Life of Ugandan Hajj Pilgrim

The Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) at the Grand Mosque successfully intervened to save a Ugandan Hajj pilgrim who suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage. (SPA)
The Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) at the Grand Mosque successfully intervened to save a Ugandan Hajj pilgrim who suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage. (SPA)
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Grand Mosque's Mobile Stroke Unit Saves Life of Ugandan Hajj Pilgrim

The Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) at the Grand Mosque successfully intervened to save a Ugandan Hajj pilgrim who suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage. (SPA)
The Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) at the Grand Mosque successfully intervened to save a Ugandan Hajj pilgrim who suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage. (SPA)

The Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) stationed at the Grand Mosque, affiliated with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC), successfully intervened to save a Ugandan Hajj pilgrim who suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage.

The pilgrim lost consciousness within the Grand Mosque due to the hemorrhage, prompting an immediate response from the specialized unit, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

Upon diagnosis at the scene, immediate treatment was initiated before the pilgrim was transferred to King Abdulaziz Hospital, a Makkah Health Cluster member, for further comprehensive medical care.

The MSU, unique in the Middle East, is fully equipped with a specialized medical team including a neurologist, cardiologist, respiratory therapist, emergency nurse, radiologist, and paramedic, along with a CT scanner. This advanced capability significantly enhances the efficiency of on-site diagnosis and treatment.

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. His condition has since improved, and he is now undergoing medical rehabilitation to complete his Hajj rituals.

This rapid and efficient response exemplifies Saudi Arabia's integrated healthcare system, which aims to boost service quality and accessibility with the highest efficiency.

Such efforts align directly with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program and the Pilgrim Experience Program, key pillars of Saudi Vision 2030, focused on providing advanced healthcare and ensuring pilgrims perform their rituals safely.



Pope Leo Warns Politicians of the Challenges Posed by AI

This handout photograph taken and released by the Vatican Media on June 21 2025, shows Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech as he meets with participants in the Jubilee of the Rulers, in The Vatican. (Handout / Vatican Media / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by the Vatican Media on June 21 2025, shows Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech as he meets with participants in the Jubilee of the Rulers, in The Vatican. (Handout / Vatican Media / AFP)
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Pope Leo Warns Politicians of the Challenges Posed by AI

This handout photograph taken and released by the Vatican Media on June 21 2025, shows Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech as he meets with participants in the Jubilee of the Rulers, in The Vatican. (Handout / Vatican Media / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by the Vatican Media on June 21 2025, shows Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech as he meets with participants in the Jubilee of the Rulers, in The Vatican. (Handout / Vatican Media / AFP)

Pope Leo warned politicians on Saturday of the challenges posed by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), addressing its potential impact on younger people as a prime concern.

Speaking at an event attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and parliamentary delegations from 68 countries, Leo revisited a topic that he has raised on a number of occasions during the first few weeks of his papacy.

"In particular, it must not be forgotten that artificial intelligence functions as a tool for the good of human beings, not to diminish them or even to replace them," Leo said at an event held as part of the Roman Catholic Jubilee or Holy Year.

AI proponents say it will speed up scientific and technological progress and help people to carry out routine tasks, granting them more time to pursue higher-value and creative work.

The US-born pontiff said attention was needed to protect "healthy, fair and sound lifestyles, especially for the good of younger generations."

He noted that AI's "static memory" was in no way comparable to the "creative, dynamic" power of human memory.

"Our personal life has greater value than any algorithm, and social relationships require spaces for development that far transcend the limited patterns that any soulless machine can pre-package," he said.

Leo, who became pope in May, has spoken previously of the threat posed by AI to jobs and has called on journalists to use it responsibly.