Tuesday 9 December 2008 (11 Dhul Hijjah 1429)
Health facilities enable kidney patients to perform Haj with ease
Arab News —
MAKKAH: The health facilities, which have been upgraded every Haj, are the most sophisticated and comprehensive this year. Health officials have seen to it that every aspect is covered so that pilgrims, even those with debilitating illnesses, can perform Haj in peace and security.
This year the authorities have taken special care to help those pilgrims suffering from renal failure. Apart from regular medical checkups by specialist teams out in force at various hospitals, the treatment offered to these pilgrims are free of charge.
The Health Ministry has made all preparations for pilgrims in Mina at the hospital there. Arab News toured the Mina hospital’s kidney dialysis center and met some patients being treated there.
Muhammad Khan from Pakistan, who has been on dialysis for a long time, was among those who expressed gratitude for the services provided in Mina. Khan said that he was a bit concerned about performing Haj, and his family members feared that his health might deteriorate during Haj due to possible lack of lookafter or proper facilities.
But after ascertaining from friends that there were excellent arrangements to facilitate such pilgrims perform Haj, he decided to undertake this journey. “What my friends told me was absolutely true. I am benefiting from the care here and the best part is that it is free,” Khan said.
“Such services cannot be provided anywhere else. I really thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and the Saudi authorities for their services to pilgrims and also for making my dream come true,” he added.
Egypt’s Saadiya Ahmad, 50, learned that she had kidney problem barely 15 days before coming for Haj. She complimented the authorities on the services being provided. She said, “When I was in Madinah, I went for dialysis three times a week for free. When I came to Makkah I was provided great medical attention. I did worry about my need for dialysis and how I could get them at the holy sites. On coming here I found my worries were unfounded.” She expressed her happiness at the free service, as the cost to treat kidney failure is prohibitive.
A Jordanian pilgrim, Abdul Khaleq, said the quality services provided here do not compare to anything back home. “My Haj is smooth and it is, thanks largely to the special care.”
Dr. Ahmad Yamani, manager of the Mina emergency hospital, emphasized that special attention is being given to dialysis patients. And there have been quite a number of pilgrims who have undergone dialysis. He said most of them leave the center after three hours of treatment.
He said that the hospital is part of a mega project in the Kingdom. “This project took ten months to complete. Interior Minister Prince Naif opened this project last Tuesday. This hospital has 300 beds and will be expanded to 500 beds, including 50 for Intensive Care Unit. The hospital consists of 600 staff including doctors, nurses and workers ready to serve pilgrims round the clock.”
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And the dialysis is totally free to Middle East Muslim patients, paid for entirely by Western consumers of foreign oil.
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