Health Ministry beefs up preventive care program

MAKKAH, November 23, SPA -- A health center will be opened at King
Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah to provide health
services to incoming and outgoing pilgrims, said Khaled bin Obaid
Zafar, Director General of Health Affairs in Makkah province.


Zafar told Arab News that Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Governor of
Makkah region would inaugurate the center, which would be manned by
doctors around the clock.


He added that the center would give vaccinations to incoming
pilgrims who were not immunized in their home countries.


“Last year more than 1.5 million pilgrims entered the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia through KAIA. We expect the same number of pilgrims this
year and this is why we are giving special emphasis to preventive
medicine,” he said.


“The Ministry of Health will concentrate on the preventive aspect
and will intensify its surveillance of entry points, especially at
the airports in Jeddah and Madinah in addition to land entries, " he
said.

--SPA