MINA: A total of 80,973 pilgrims have benefited from medical care at hospitals and health centers in Makkah and Madinah since June 19, the Saudi Ministry of Health said.
The specialized healthcare services include 23 open-heart surgeries, 168 cardiac catheters, 464 dialysis sessions and 41 endoscopies, among others, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The ministry has alerted pilgrims to the dangers of heat stress during Hajj, which is seeing a rise in temperatures that pose a threat to their health.
The ministry emphasized that using umbrellas, drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding physical exertion and following health guidelines can help protect pilgrims from heatstroke or heat stress.
Meanwhile, the ministry said hospitals it operates in Arafat are ready to provide all kinds of medical care to pilgrims.
It added that Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital, Arafat General Hospital, Namera Hospital and East Arafat Hospital, as well as a field hospital and 46 health centers manned by more than 1,700 personnel specialized in different medical fields, have been equipped with the latest medical devices, technology and supplies.
The ministry said more than 900 beds have been prepared in the four hospitals, fully equipped to receive cases of sunstroke, heat exhaustion and other emergencies, as have the intensive care units.
