Female Saudi volunteers offer help to the sick

By Ashwaq Al-Twairqi HOLY SITES — Female Saudi volunteers extended all sorts of help to the pilgrims in the Holy Sites. Ruqaya Sami was given a chance to take care of pilgrims, especially the elderly and children, who suffered from sunstrokes and pilgrims with chronic conditions like diabetes and other contagious diseases. About 120 Saudi women healthcare professionals volunteered to provide pilgrims with first aid services. Mona Al-Jiffri sprayed cold water on pilgrims to cool them down and alleviate the suffering of elderly and children who get tired because of the scorching sun. A senior student at the School of Medicine and Surgery of Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Jiffri was volunteering for the first time during Haj and was happy about the experience. “I helped my colleagues prepare first aid kits for sunstrokes and other medical conditions and ensured that each kit has all medications and other items we need. We underwent a three-month training program offered by experienced volunteers and were trained to face any challenge and work under the scorching heat,” she said. She also helped other colleagues educate pilgrims about how to prevent themselves from contagious diseases and sunstrokes and explained to diabetic and high pressure patients the importance of complying with medical instructions.