Sunday, December 9, 2007

Emir opens new Arafat Hospital


Sunday, 09 December 2007

By: Adel Al-Malki
MAKKAH - Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the Emir of Makkah, officially opened a new SR44 million hospital in Arafat on Friday during a tour of the Holy City and ritual areas to inspect Haj arrangements.
The three-story Jebel Al-Rahmah Hospital is a single structure accommodating emergency and outpatient clinics, operation theaters, intensive care and sun-stroke treatment units, kitchen and dining halls, and housing for staff. It has 225 beds with an option of increasing the number to 400 in case of an emergency.
The Emir started the tour by inspecting Jamarat Bridge project and its SR480 million third phase.
The project aims to increase pilgrim capacity for the stoning of the Jamarat ritual. The multi-layered bridge will reduce density of pilgrims and allow for more services to be provided on the bridge. As part of the project, the surrounding squares have been expanded and pedestrian and vehicle movements separated.
Prince Khaled then moved to the Center of Command and Control in the General Security Compound after which he inspected the new buildings for pilgrim housing on the surrounding hillsides. The Emir inspected the pilgrim camp called "Model Square" which offers a quantum leap in accommodations in Arafat. Similar model squares will be built in all the ritual areas.
Stopping at the Mohammad Al-Amodi Charity Organization, the Emir launched a SR45 million project to distribute up to 5 million free meals to pilgrims.
At the transport center and bus service center, the Emir watched a video prepared by the Ministry of Haj about the many new pilgrim-service arrangements made this year.
The Ministry of Water and Sewerage has completed a number of new projects for additional toilets in the ritual areas. The Ministry of Transportation has asphalted the roads and expanded parking zones.
Minister of Health Hamad Al-Manie', Minister of Haj Fouad Farsi, members of the Central Haj Committee, heads of government sectors involved in pilgrim service, and security officials accompanied the Emir on the tour.

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