Overcoming the heat: Preventative healthcare key to successful Hajj

RIYADH: Known for its scorching temperatures and desert climate, Makkah is a destination for millions of Muslims who undertake the Hajj pilgrimage as one of the five pillars of Islam.
The annual ritual is increasingly challenging due to the rising global temperatures, making the desert climate of the Kingdom even more sweltering.
“The first day of the 2023 Hajj season witnessed extremely hot weather, with the temperature ranging from 43 to 45 degrees Celsius,” weather researcher Abdulaziz Al-Hussaini said on the Saudia Channel.
Despite concerns about Makkah’s arid climate, the Kingdom’s technological and infrastructural advancements have allowed pilgrims to perform their rituals in safety and comfort.
All healthcare facilities have been equipped with misting fans, which help to reduce cases of heat exhaustion and sunstroke.
The Ministry of Health said on Tuesday there had so far been 147 cases of heat exhaustion and heatstroke among Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque.
It advised all pilgrims to drink plenty of liquids, use umbrellas and avoid exhausting themselves while descending from Muzdalifah.
The ministry has allocated 217 beds for people suffering from sunstroke, of which 166 are in hospitals at the holy sites and 51 in the hospitals of Makkah.
“To ensure a pilgrim is not affected by the extreme heat of Makkah and any other complications that may arise during Hajj, mental and physical preparation is a must,” said Dr. Amal Alshammari, director of medical and clinical services at Dammam primary healthcare centers and a Hajj volunteer.
“Pilgrims must check with a doctor before Hajj to see if they need to take any medication, and maintain good health throughout the Hajj journey,” she said.
“While performing Hajj, pilgrims should drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, get plenty of sleep and avoid overeating and depending on quick meals.”
To ensure the success of the healthcare plan, doctors and nurses arrive a week before the pilgrims, and Ministry of Health employees undergo training to raise their awareness of preventative healthcare.
“In our seven days of training, there’s an emphasis on treating the pilgrims as if they were guests who had come to our houses,” Alshammari said.
The medics are get refresher courses in infection control and other preventive healthcare fundamentals.
The ministry intensified its awareness and educational campaigns among pilgrims, including telling them how to protect themselves and avoid heat exhaustion and sunstroke.
“We are trained in how to deal with pilgrims, what sort of medicines are available and how to help them in an easy and smooth way,” Alshammari said.
“Sunstroke, dehydration, irregular sugar levels, high blood pressure, digestive problems, constipation, diarrhea, and shortness of breath are among the most common problems,” she added.
The Ministry of Health has equipped hospitals, healthcare centers and other centers with essential materials, including personal protective equipment and high-efficiency air purifiers for use in patient isolation rooms.
Respiratory screening tools and environmental disinfection systems are also available.
The ministry has prepared 32 hospitals and 140 health centers in the two holy cities.
Mina, commonly known as the city of tents, and an important part of the Hajj journey, had “five hospitals and 25 medical centers,” Alshammari said.
While the ministry is focused on keeping pilgrims safe, it also places great importance on them completing all parts of their Hajj journey.
“The Ministry of Health doesn’t only care about the well-being of pilgrims, but also for pilgrims to perform and complete all parts of the Hajj,” Alshammari said.