EGYPT- Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has announced precautions and safety measure to be observed during the Muslim Hajj (pilgrimage) season aimed at ensuring the health and safety of Egyptian pilgrims.

MoHP declared that Egyptian pilgrims will be mandated to meet important health requirements amid the ongoing COVID-19 including a QR Code certificate showing proof of his/her Coronavirus vaccination and the booster dose from the vaccination centers spread in all governorates.

In addition, pilgrims can conduct their PCR tests in the central laboratories of the Ministry of Health and Population,72 hours before the travel date to ensure that they are free of COVID-19 in an effort to stop the spread of the global pandemic.

Other health requirements include obtaining a medical certificate from the hospitals of the Ministry of Health stating that they are free from diseases and a certificate of vaccinations against meningitis and polio.

The announcement follows a meeting held by Amr Kandil, the head of the preventive medicine sector and head of the medical mission for Hajj, with members of the medical mission at the Princess Fatima Center for Medical and Vocational Education.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population Hossam Abdel Ghaffar revealed that 12 medical clinics were equipped to provide medical and therapeutic services to pilgrims including 9 clinics in hotels that will be housing Egyptian pilgrims in Mecca together with 3 clinics in Madinah.

In addition, the medical mission will be provided with 7 tons of medicines and medical supplies along with an emergency room allocated around the clock to follow up the health status of Egyptian pilgrims, the balances of medicines and supplies along with distribution of supplies to the medical clinics.

The medical mission will provide its treatment services to Egyptians and all non-Egyptians who request the service, in addition to providing daily awareness lectures at pilgrims’ residence and distributing educational brochures to pilgrims,” assured Amr Kandil.

Egypt inaugurates mental healthcare facilities

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population has unveiled six new outpatient mental health clinics and inpatient wards at the Abbasiya Mental Health Hospital in Cairo in close collaboration with UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency to increase its reception capacity.

The partnership aims to support and expand the mental health and psychosocial services provided by the Egyptian Ministry of Health to Egyptian and refugee patients as well as address the growing need to strengthen mental health responses.

So far, UNHCR has supported MoHP with medical equipment worth around five million dollars including devices for early detection of breast cancer, dialysis devices, medical beds, intensive care units and respirators as well as personal protective equipment amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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