Hajj Health Campaign 2024: Health guidelines for a safe Hajj from Jeddah Hospital

King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah, represented by its Communication, Change, and Health Awareness Department, launched its extensive awareness campaign under the slogan “Hajj in Good Health,” coinciding with the arrival of pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its western gateway. This annual initiative aims to raise health awareness among pilgrims and the host community, and to provide them with the necessary guidance to perform Hajj rituals in safe and stable health conditions.

General context and historical efforts of the Kingdom

The “Hajj in Good Health” campaign is part of a comprehensive system of services and programs provided by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Health and other sectors, to ensure the safety and health of the millions of pilgrims who arrive annually from around the world. The Kingdom has a long history of experience in crowd management and providing healthcare during the Hajj season, facing unique logistical and health challenges. Over the decades, the Kingdom has developed an advanced healthcare infrastructure in Makkah, Madinah, and the Holy Sites, including hospitals, mobile health centers, and field medical teams, to address any health emergency. Preventive awareness campaigns like “Hajj in Good Health” are a cornerstone of this strategy, focusing on the principle of “prevention is better than cure” to reduce the burden on healthcare facilities.

Campaign objectives and expected importance

The campaign is of paramount importance both locally and internationally. Locally, it contributes to protecting the health of citizens and residents in Jeddah, a major transit point for pilgrims, by raising awareness about infectious diseases and how to prevent them. Internationally, the success of these preventative efforts has a positive impact on global health, preventing the Hajj season from becoming a global epicenter for disease outbreaks upon the pilgrims' return home. The campaign focuses particularly on preventing heat exhaustion and sunstroke, given that the Hajj season often coincides with high temperatures, in addition to raising awareness about the importance of necessary vaccinations, personal hygiene, and proper food and beverage handling.

Campaign activity details

The hospital implemented the campaign extensively, setting up awareness booths in waiting areas and outpatient clinics, staffed by specialized medical personnel to answer inquiries from patients and visitors. The activities included the following:

• Distributing detailed informational brochures about the contents of the pilgrim's medical kit, and the importance of obtaining recommended vaccinations such as the meningitis and seasonal influenza vaccines.
• Providing direct and personal advice to patients, especially those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, on how to manage their health conditions while performing the rituals.
• Educational videos were shown on the hospital screens, explaining in a simplified manner the correct ways to prevent sunstroke, its symptoms, and how to deal with it.

Awareness extends to the community

The "Hajj in Good Health" initiative wasn't confined to the hospital walls; it extended to outreach efforts targeting Jeddah residents in several public squares and busy shopping centers. Through this field initiative, the hospital aimed to raise awareness among residents and visitors of the city who wished to perform Hajj about the importance of physical fitness and proper health preparation before heading to the holy sites, while also promoting a culture of adherence to health requirements within the community to ensure everyone's safety.