The Hajj volunteer health program attracts 710 students in its 18th edition
Seven hundred and ten volunteers, including medical and health science students from various universities and colleges across Saudi Arabia, are participating in Hajj Health Volunteer Program . This was announced by the “Dirham Wiqaya” Association, the program's organizer, which launched its comprehensive package of health volunteer programs for the Hajj season as part of its ongoing annual efforts to serve pilgrims. This initiative aims to enhance the presence of volunteer health work during the Hajj season, aligning closely with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to empower the non-profit sector and increase the contribution of volunteers to community service.
A distinguished history of providing medical care to pilgrims
Since its founding, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed great importance on the health and safety of pilgrims, and the healthcare system in the Holy Sites has developed significantly over the decades. Providing medical care is no longer limited to government efforts; volunteer work has become a fundamental pillar supporting this system. Medical volunteer initiatives have emerged as a natural response to the continuous increase in the number of pilgrims, with the combined efforts of non-profit organizations and universities providing on-the-ground support. This current iteration represents a continuation of years of accumulated experience that has contributed to honing the skills of young healthcare practitioners and has made volunteering during Hajj a leading global field school in the field of mass gathering medicine.
Strategic dimensions and far-reaching impacts of humanitarian work
The importance of these initiatives extends far beyond providing first aid; they have a wide-ranging local, regional, and international impact. Locally, these programs contribute to building a generation of Saudi medical professionals skilled in crisis management and dealing with massive crowds, thus strengthening the resilience of the national healthcare sector. Regionally and internationally, providing high-quality healthcare to pilgrims from around the world reflects the Kingdom's civilized and humanitarian image and underscores its global leadership in managing large gatherings, leaving a profound and positive impression on the pilgrims and benefiting their home countries upon their safe return.
The volunteer health program during Hajj: A comprehensive vision and continuous development
Dr. Jasser Al-Shehri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Primary Healthcare Charitable Association “Dirham Wiqaya,” explained that the association’s programs for this year’s Hajj are part of a more comprehensive vision for volunteer healthcare. The volunteer healthcare program during Hajj to providing direct medical services, but extends to include awareness and prevention, health risk management, volunteer training, and the analysis and utilization of field data to develop future programs. This package focuses on providing primary healthcare, first aid, and health awareness to pilgrims in densely populated areas, according to an operational model designed to suit the nature and needs of the Hajj season.
Updates for the 18th edition and field clinics
Dr. Al-Shehri revealed the most significant updates to the association's programs for this season, which include operating four medical clinics along the pedestrian route between Arafat and Muzdalifah. He emphasized that the association works annually to develop its operational model in line with the latest health and organizational developments during Hajj, thereby enhancing the quality of services provided to pilgrims and increasing the efficiency of volunteer healthcare work in high-density field environments. He stressed that volunteer healthcare work during Hajj represents a great opportunity to contribute to serving one's religion and country, to attain the honor of serving the guests of God, and to reinforce the values of solidarity and mutual support that Islam encourages.
A precise mechanism for selecting and training medical professionals
For his part, the program's executive director, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Alawi Buqas, explained that the registration phase saw over 3,200 applicants expressing their desire to participate. These applicants were screened according to specific criteria, including health and professional readiness, volunteer experience, and the ability to work in the field, before 710 final participants were selected. He noted that the program consists of several key phases, beginning with a preparation and theoretical and practical training phase to equip volunteers to deal with the most common cases, such as heat exhaustion, sunstroke, fatigue, foot ulcers, and chronic emergency conditions. This is followed by the field phase, from the Day of Tarwiyah until the end of the days of Tashreeq, and concludes with an evaluation and impact assessment phase.
Strategic partnerships to enhance service quality
The “Dirham of Prevention” program aims to build a comprehensive health volunteering model that combines professional competence with collaboration with relevant entities. The association implements its programs in partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Health, under the supervision of the National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector. The association clarified that volunteer hours for participants are accredited through the Health Volunteering Platform, which enhances the credibility of participation and supports the documentation of volunteers' contributions to this blessed national and humanitarian endeavor.
