Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah recently visited the coronavirus vaccination facility at the International Medical Center (IMC) in Jeddah. The facility was set up last Ramadan in collaboration with the ministry, to help vaccinate the community, as part of the nationwide campaign to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Dr. Al-Rabiah praised the tremendous efforts by IMC to support the Kingdom’s vaccination drive, which constitutes one of the IMC’s major social responsibility projects for Saudi society. The minister stressed the importance of private and public medical cooperation in multiple community projects, highlighting the IMC’s successful proactive initiatives, operational efficiency and top medical care standards.
The center has set up a large vaccination tent in its yard with 50 volunteers to serve the people of Jeddah every day. IMC has become one of the top vaccination centers, where premium healthcare services are offered in perfect harmony with the renowned IMC standards.
The IMC’s massive 2,000-square-meter vaccination center can host 4,000 people daily and was prepared in only eight days. The center was created to host many individuals and meet the high demand for vaccination in Jeddah, in accordance with the ministry’s campaign strategy to expedite the vaccination process across the Kingdom and achieve a 100 percent immune society.
IMC staff from infection control, operations, pharmacy, laboratory, medical engineering and IT departments alongside a group of doctors and nurses have all taken part in setting up the outdoor vaccination tent.
IMC Chairman and CEO Dr. Walid Fitaihi welcomed the minister and expressed his gratitude to the ministry for enabling this mutual cooperation, which started by setting up the vaccination center followed by installing anti-smoking clinics within the same tent. He also briefed the minister on the IMC’s future plans of building a medical college, women’s and children’s hospital, and a medical tower. They also discussed the development projects of the First Clinics Center, Al-Afia Resort, Al-Afia Village, a service building, a multistory car park, and the surrounding area of the IMC.
Dr. Fitaihi also showcased the IMC’s trophies and key achievements in protecting patients during the pandemic, including the King Abdul Aziz Quality Award 2020 in the category of private health facilities, the National Patient Safety Award 2020 in its special edition for the category of healthcare institutions, and the Infection Control Star Award by the Health Ministry for its active and responsive role during the coronavirus outbreak.
“Our sincere gratitude to the ministry for selecting IMC as one of the first certified centers in the western province to provide vaccination services, and for trusting IMC’s expertise and operational capacity to perfectly host community service projects in Saudi Arabia. I also give special thanks to our team of volunteers who stood behind the success of this inspiring medical experience,” Dr. Fitaihi said.
