Hajj is an important religious obligation that is performed from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah. It is the biggest Islamic event, and a large number of Muslims gather to perform this religious duty. Pilgrims are guided to take good care of their health and are instructed to take preventive measures, such as pre-hajj vaccines and acquiring adequate information about heat prevention measures. To tackle this effectively, the Saudi government has launched a health awareness campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Medina Development Authority.
Information delivered in Various Languages
The initiative by Medina Health Cluster has been launched in various languages and has been assisting the pilgrims since the first batch arrived for Hajj 2024.
Initiatives Included in the Health Awareness Campaign
Ninety-seven smart screens have been installed at very important places, such as Prince Muhammad bin King Abdul Aziz Airport and Haramain High-Speed Station. These places have been chosen because pilgrims have easy access to them, and they are bound to visit them. They can be guided right at the point when they arrive in Saudi Arabia or while they are travelling during the Hajj.
Moreover, smart screens have also been installed in buses used for transporting pilgrims and in shopping malls.
Role of Social Media
Posters displaying health information are also posted in different languages, such as English, French, Persian, Urdu, and Arabic.
Sehaty App
The Sehaty App plays a crucial role in determining the fit medical status of the pilgrim. Pilgrims need to install and register for this app, as it is mandatory for the verification of vaccination status.
Healthcare Information
Information about heat stroke, exhaustion, direct sun exposure, lack of water, sanitation, basic aid, food poisoning, and hygiene is shared by health workers, social media, and on smart screens as the meteorological department of Saudi Arabia has predicted extreme weather conditions.
The aim is to educate the pilgrims about the potential health problems they might face during Hajj 2024.
