This year’s Hajj pilgrimage is set to be the largest, signalling a full return after the years disrupted by Covid-19 pandemic….reports Asian Lite News
The annual Hajj pilgrimage season commenced as millions of pilgrims arrived at the Grand Mosque in Mecca to perform Tawaf Al-Qudum.
Pilgrims today flocked to Mina to spend the day of Tarwiyah (water provision). Various agencies operating during this year’s Hajj season 2023, have already wrapped up preparations for the pilgrims’ arrival in Mina to spend the Day of Tarwiyah on Monday, the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah.
Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah earlier said that this year’s Hajj will be the largest gathering in history, according to Al Jazeera.
Mina, a historical and religious landmark, covers an area of around 7.82 square kilometers, of which 4.8 square kilometers are exploited, representing about 61 percent of the Valley’s area.
The other 39 percent of Mina’s land is composed of rugged mountains with elevations of around 500 meters high above the valley surface.
Tents in Mina are established based on security, safety, and suitability for the surrounding environment, with 30,000 fire-fighting sprinklers and over 3,000 surveillance cameras.
The tents have 12,000 headphones for guidance and alerts and over 15,000 air conditioning and ventilation units.
The camps also have toilets, places for wudu (ablution), electrical power distribution equipment, kitchens, and areas for trash.
Tents in Mina are typically 8 square meters in size but also six by 8 or 12 by 8 meters.
The masses of pilgrims in Mina enjoy medical and treatment services with 97 ambulance centers affiliated with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.
A fleet of 320 ambulances, six air ambulances, nine motorcycles, four golf carts, four medical supply vehicles, 16 response vehicles, and service cars exist for the pilgrims in Mina, supported by 1,288 medical cadres.
Meanwhile, King Salman has issued an order to host 1,000 pilgrims from Saudi families of martyrs who participated in the Determination Storm Operation, as well as 1,000 pilgrims from the families of martyrs from the Yemeni forces.
This initiative is part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program, which is annually supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, the program has already hosted 4,951 Islamic personalities, influencers, and prominent individuals, as well as families and relatives of martyrs from Palestine, Yemen, Syria, and other nations this year.
The total number of pilgrims hosted under this program, at the expense of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has now reached 62,338. The Ministry has established a comprehensive package of services in Mecca and Madinah to ensure a fulfilling and comfortable pilgrimage experience for all guests.
Medical care
Over 49,000 pilgrims have received medical care services in seasonal health centres and facilities in Madinah since the beginning of the month of Dhul Qaeda, 1444 AH. The Ministry of Health has provided comprehensive medical care services to the pilgrims during their stay in the province of Madinah. Since the beginning of the previous Hijri month, a total of 43,445 pilgrims have received healthcare services in the seasonal health centres near the Prophet’s Mosque and in the central area, as stated by the Ministry of Health.
Furthermore, the emergency departments of hospitals have attended to 5,654 pilgrims during the same period. The medical services in Madinah have included six open-heart surgeries, 88 cardiac catheterizations, 76 other surgeries, and 134 dialysis sessions. 192,552 pilgrims have received health education and awareness services in their hotels, shelters, shuttle buses, and public facilities.
These medical care services complement the comprehensive services by the government to ensure the highest quality standards are met around the clock at all air and land arrival and departure ports during the Hajj season, according to the Ministry.
The Ministry deploys medical personnel at these ports and offers awareness, educational, and field health guidance services to pilgrims and visitors in Madinah before their departure to Mecca for Hajj. On Saturday, the Ministry launched a medical convoy of 16 ambulances to transport pilgrims admitted to hospitals in Madinah to Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital in the Arafat area.
The convoy has a specialised medical team comprising 83 doctors, nurses, and paramedics. Furthermore, four additional ambulances are stationed on the Hijra Highway that connects Madinah and Mecca. These ambulances are supported by two ICU ambulances, an integrated oxygen cabin, a mobile first aid unit, and a bus to transport patients’ escorts.
