486,000 livestock inspected: Efforts of the Wakaa Center to serve pilgrims
announced Wiqa’a the completion of all its field and operational preparations to serve pilgrims during the Hajj season. This step is part of a comprehensive preventive system covering the Makkah and Madinah regions, supported by specialized technical teams and the latest technological and human resources, with the aim of enhancing health and food security and ensuring a safe and disease-free Hajj season.
The development of veterinary care and food security during Hajj seasons
Historically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed great importance on food safety and livestock health during the Hajj season, given the millions of pilgrims who flock to perform the rituals and offer sacrifices. With the development of government institutions, the need for specialized entities to address environmental and veterinary challenges has become apparent. This is where the role of modern institutions becomes crucial in building upon decades of dedicated work to protect public health. Proactive measures serve as a protective shield against the spread of zoonotic diseases in the crowded environment of the Hajj.
Strategic dimensions and global impact of the efforts of the Prevention Center
The importance of the measures taken by the Weqaa Center extends beyond the local level, impacting the region and the world at large. By ensuring the safety of meat and sacrificial animals, the Kingdom contributes to preventing the transmission of any cross-border infectious diseases that pilgrims might carry back to their countries. This high level of oversight enhances the international community's confidence in the Kingdom's ability to manage large crowds and provide a safe and healthy environment, which positively impacts global public health and supports the stability of agricultural and livestock markets in the region.
Figures and statistics: Hundreds of thousands of livestock examined
On the ground, the center's teams intensified their inspection and detection efforts at Makkah's entry points for various livestock shipments. The teams recorded remarkable operational figures, inspecting 394,570 head of livestock and confirming the health of over 4 million released poultry. The inspections also covered 169,616 sheep and 777 cattle. To achieve this, 191 veterinary specialists and technical assistants were deployed across 67 field and emergency teams equipped with the latest technologies to conduct intensive monitoring and investigation tours aimed at mitigating the risks of disease outbreaks.
Pest control and awareness efforts in Mecca and Medina
In addition to veterinary inspections, the center conducted 1,138 surveys and 1,054 field control visits, as well as 2,532 awareness visits targeting livestock breeders and owners, and 2,601 monitoring visits in public markets. In the area of pest control, teams completed desert locust surveys across 31,390 hectares and surveys for black grasshoppers and grasshoppers across more than 3,726 hectares.
In Madinah, the center's branch continued implementing its preventative plans by inspecting over 92,111 head of imported sheep and cattle, conducting 569 monitoring visits to livestock markets and slaughterhouses, and carrying out over 2,657 insect vector surveillance visits to ensure the safety of visitors to the Prophet's Mosque. Additionally, guidance and support were provided to 2,754 beneficiaries through 1,214 field visits.
Continued state of high alert
In conclusion, these tremendous efforts confirm the continuation of the state of maximum readiness until the end of the Hajj season, within the framework of integrated work with all concerned parties, embodying the center’s mission to protect health and food security according to the highest international quality standards in the holiest of places.
