"Eight hospitals and 93 clinics are located in the Masya`ir area, while nine hospitals are in Mecca," Director of Hajj and the Umrah Department at Mecca Health Affairs Dr. Mwafaq Abutalib informed journalists from several countries while visiting health facilities for pilgrims on Tuesday (July 17).
Abutalib explained that the Masya`ir area includes Mina, Arafah, and Muzdalifah. The eight hospitals in the area include the Arafah East Hospital, Arafah General Hospital, Namirah General Hospital, Jabal Rahmah Hospital, and Mina Emergency Hospital.
"There are 46 health clinics in Arafat, six in Muzdalifah, 25 in Mina, and 16 in Jumarat," he noted, adding that the King Abdullah Medical Hospital, Jiyad Hospital, Al- Haram Hospital, Heraa Hospital, and Maternity and Children Hospital, among others, had been prepared to serve pilgrims in Mecca region.
According to Abutalib, the Arafah East Hospital and the clinics located in Masya`ir are only open during the hajj season.
"Health facilities in Mina only operate five days, two to three days in Arafah, and only one night in Muzdalifah," he remarked.
Some health facilities offered are emergency care, intensive care unit, surgery room, X-ray examination, CT scan, as well as delivery room and infant care through the neonatal intensive care unit.
Abutalib further pointed out that all health services provided by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for pilgrims are free of charge.
The procession of the pilgrimage begins on the 8th of Dzulhijjah, or Aug 19. On this day, the pilgrims express an intention to perform Hajj, depart for Mina, and stay for a night.
The next day on the 9th Dzhulhijjah, the pilgrims visit Arafat where they perform wukuf. Here the pilgrims are encouraged to offer prayers multiple times and to not leave Arafat until the sun sets.
The pilgrims thereafter head to Muzdalifah and stay overnight. After sunrise, they leave for Mina.
On the 10th of Dzhulhijjah, which is also celebrated by Muslims around the world as Eid al-Adha, the pilgrims hurl gravel stones that they had taken at Muzdalifah or Mina at poles that represent the devil.
This season, the number of Indonesian pilgrims is the highest, at 221 thousand people.
Reporter: Libertina W. Ambari
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
