MAKKAH: Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) will set up a field treatment centre in Muzdalifah during the Masyair operation during this year's haj season to allow medical services to be channeled directly to the pilgrims.
Malaysian haj delegation deputy head (medical) Dr Abdul Marsudi Manah said the situation in Muzdalifah was different as facilities were limited there.
"For Muzdalifah we have a 'combat madson' medical team or medicine with a field treatment concept which means we will give treatment with what is available there.
"For example, if we want to put patients to sleep in a hospital, we need beds and other items, but in Muzdalifah it's different because the patients are lying on the ground, and that's where we will put them to intubate them," he told the media at the TH headquarters here, recently.
Dr Marsudi said that the Masyair operation was a critical phase for the medical team because it was necessary to ensure that 31,600 pilgrims could perform wukuf at Arafah.
"There is no increase in medical personnel, but we will reorganise the personnel to focus on operations in Arafah.
"What is important is the Wukuf Safari service, which is a special vehicle that brings sick pilgrims from being treated at the TH Medical Centre in Makkah to perform the wukuf in Arafah and back to the medical centre.
In the meantime, Dr Marsudi added that the medical unit involved played a very important role in delivering health services to Malaysian pilgrims during their stay in the Holy Land.
"Medical officers are trained and experienced to provide the necessary health services starting from the time the pilgrims setting foot in Madinah or Makkah, performing the wukuf until they leave for Malaysia.
"We have a target to ensure that the journey of Malaysian pilgrims is the best pilgrimage journey," he said, adding that there are 278 TH medical officers comprising various disciplines and departments.
According to him, there are specialists who are assisted by medical officers, nurses, assistant medical officers and laboratory support units.
There are also nutritionists as well as dental experts and physiotherapists, of which 40 of the medical practitioners are those who have experience working in the Holy Land while 60 per cent are new workers.
Wukuf is on the ninth day of Zulhijah which falls on June 15. It means to stop and be in Arafah for a while or for a few moments in any circumstance as it is the second pillar of the haj.