Dr. Al-Rabeeah Sends a Cable of Thanks to King Abdullah for Patronizing the Inauguration of Several Health Projects
His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, has sent a cable of thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for his gracious patronage of the inauguration and foundation-laying of several health projects.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah was quoted as saying, "It is a great honor bestowed upon the Ministry of Health, its employees, and the health sector as a whole, to have the inauguration and foundation-laying of several health projects held under the gracious auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at a total cost of SR 12.084.987.421. These projects include the inauguration of 29 hospitals and health facilities, and 391 primary healthcare centers, as well as laying the foundation of two medical cities, and projects in three existing medical cities and a specialist hospital, in addition to seven general hospitals, two medical towers, 73 digital operation theatres, and 111 primary healthcare centers."
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The gut infection Clostridium difficile can be defeated by a cocktail of rival good bacteria, experiments in mice show.
When C. difficile bacteria overwhelm the gut, it can be fatal and difficult to treat with antibiotics.
A UK team showed a combination of six bacteria could clear the infection.
The study, published in PLoS Pathogens, builds on faecal transplant procedures - which are used to introduce competing bacteria.
C. difficile bacteria live in many people's guts alongside hundreds of other species - all fighting for space and food.
However, a strong course of antibiotics can kill off C. difficile's competition. Numbers then explode, C. difficile dominates the gut and masses of toxins are produced. It results in diarrhoea and can be deadly.
Read MoreJEDDAH – Dr. Ziyad Meimish, Undersecretary for Public Health at the Ministry of Health, said the ministry recommended barring of pilgrims from two African countries from entry during the Haj this year after reports about outbreaks of contagious diseases in those countries.
He said after closely monitoring the situation by the ministry's scientific committee, it recommended preventing entry of pilgrims from the two countries.
Dr. Meimish said the health situation of pilgrims until the 10th of Dhul Hijjah has been reassuring and that no epidemic or quarantine diseases have been registered. The Ministry of Health is monitoring and following up pilgrims' health closely through field reports and the control room in the ministry.
Read MoreAnd if you can't, new higher-tech glasses, contacts, or easy surgery will bring even the numbers on your cell phone into focus
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MINA— Saudi Arabia has declared this year's Haj season free of epidemic or contagious diseases.
Addressing a press conference in Mina on Sunday, Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah said no cases of contagious diseases have been detected so far.
"So, I announce the Health Commission's conclusion that the Haj season of 1433AH (2012CE) is free of any epidemic or communicable diseases, " the minister said.
The current Haj season is winding down with the pilgrims starting to leave the Mina valley Sunday afternoon after a three-day stay following their return from Arafat at the peak of the Haj.
However, many pilgrims will stay back in the tent city to continue the Jamarat stoning for a fourth day, which is optional.
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AL-HARTH — Cleaning workers at Al-Harth General Hospital in the Jazan region have found unusual objects inside the hospital's courtyard.
The workers, who were employees of a cleaning contract company, said they were surprised by an explosion as they burned medical waste and dry leaves in the hospital's backyard.
The hospital's administration immediately informed the security bodies and the Civil Defense. Firefighters quickly contained a fire that resulted from the explosion.
Read MoreMINA — Sara Al-Shaye, 29, a Saudi information technology engineer based in Riyadh, came for the first time to serve in Haj, with a team of Saudi female IT specialists in a pilot IT project that the Ministry of Health implemented in five primary healthcare centers in Mina.
"When I was offered the job I was given the choice, but I decided to go, especially because of the encouragement of my husband," she told Saudi Gazette on her experience as a Saudi female serving in Haj.
"Once I arrived here, I was strongly moved with the sight of the giant crowds of devotees of varying ages who came from all over the world to seek the forgiveness of Allah through the most physically taxing religious ritual," she said.
Read MoreEven a Little Weight Gain – or Loss -- Can Affect Your Heartburn
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Dr. Al-Rabeeah's Address before the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques during the Inauguration of Health Projects
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the noblest of the Prophets and Messengers, our Messenger Mohammed.
Allah says: "And if you would count the favours of Allah, never could you be able to count them. Truly! Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (An-Nahl/ 18) Read More
