Health hot line for Hajis ready

By MD RASOOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 21, 2011 22:24 Updated: Oct 22, 2011 12:34

RIYADH: The Ministry of Health will start a phone-in service Saturday for Haj pilgrims to obtain health advice instantly.

The “Saha Ziyufur Ar Rahman” (Health for the Guests of Allah) service will be formally launched in the presence of the ministry’s senior health officials at its call center in the capital.

"This is a program which we are conducting for the seventh consecutive year that has proven successful in the past," Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani told Arab News on Friday.

"The service is available on the toll-free number 8002494444 and will greet the caller with 'Allah Humma Labaik' before diverting him or her to a medical officer.”

The Arabic-language service is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. until Dul Hijjah 8 (Nov. 4), Al-Mirghalani noted, adding that it is a toll-free line open 24 hours, but officials will be available during the day only.

The spokesman explained that callers can leave their questions and their contact numbers during out-of-office hours and the ministry will get back to them the following day.

"We have a team of experts who will give instant replies to callers seeking medical advice during their pilgrimage." The medical team comprises consultants, cardiologists, medical specialists, pharmacists and dentists. The program is handled by a group of Saudi women who work in the ministry and its city hospitals here.

"We assure all callers strict confidentiality of the information they provide,” he said, adding that men suffering from chronic ailments such as diabetes and hypertension are free to ask questions about their dose of medicines and how they should store their insulin during the pilgrimage, while women could inquire about vaccines and matters concerning their menstrual cycle and how to manage it during Haj.

In the past the spokesman said most of the calls focused on diabetes, hypertension, renal and cardiac diseases, which are categorized as noncommunicable.

This year, he added, the ministry is concentrating on educating the pilgrims on personal hygiene, drinking bottled water and requesting them to keep away from the sun at noon to avoid sunstroke.

He added that ministry officials would also distribute to each family a packet of literature and brochures about personal hygiene to advise pilgrims on the precautionary measures to be taken during their stay in the holy cities. He said the ministry is making every effort to provide a safe and secure Haj for pilgrims.

"The ministry is carefully implementing a series of health education programs among pilgrims to prevent the spread of infectious diseases at the holy sites," the spokesman said.

Medical professionals participating in the program include family and community medicine advisers Dr. Munira Bazara and Dr. Anwar Faqiha, gynecologist Dr. Nasser Al-Dosary, nutritionist Amal Kinano, cardiologists Dr. Nazreen Sherbini and Dr. Mujeeb Abdullah and diabetes specialist Dr. Fakiha Sherbini.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article521713.ece