Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) tends to hundreds of pilgrims on their way to Mecca

(7/10/2012 –Jericho): Medical and humanitarian services were provided by PRCS to hundreds of Moslem pilgrims on their way to Mecca at the Pilgrims City on Al Karama border crossing (Jericho Governorate) with Jordan. As in every year, PRCS initiated a medical campaign and mobilized its mobile medical clinic, specialized teams and volunteers over the past week to this end.

According to Dr. Anwar Dweikat, Head of PRCS’ Primary Health Care Department, “As soon as pilgrims started heading to Mecca, PRCS opened a state-of-the-art medical clinic at the Pilgrims City, staffing it with a full time doctor and a nurse. The mobile clinic provided emergency assistance to pilgrims and distributed medicine to all those in need, including sick and elderly pilgrims. Medical services were provided to a total of 450 pilgrims”, he said.

Tens of volunteers also provided assistance and guidance to pilgrims who were waiting at the passport control desk, handing each pilgrim educational material on disease prevention as well as distilled water.

Maher Al Natour, Head of PRCS/Jericho, said that the provision of services to pilgrims leaving through Al Karama border crossing has become an annual tradition observed by PRCS. “PRCS staff and volunteers provided daily medical and educational services to a total of 5200 pilgrims who transited through the Pilgrims City thanks to an integrated team comprising doctors, paramedics and volunteers. Moreover, a PRCS ambulance was allocated to the border crossing on a daily basis”, he said.