UQU President Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Bin Bakri Assas launched on Sunday Shawal 27th, 1437H, at his office in the university campus in Abdiyah, the pilgrims' infection control initiative to be carried out by the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research in collaboration with the College of Medicine. The event was attended by the Dean of the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, Dr. Atif bin Hussein Asghar, the Dean of the College of Medicine, Dr. Anmar Nassir, a number of researchers from the Institute including Dr. Bassam Mashat, Dr. Turki Habibullah, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sobaei, and the company implementing the initiative.

   
He watched a presentation about the initiative including; washing hands campaign to be carried out during this year's Hajj season, and purify my house campaign to purify internal environment of mosques, to be carried out in 1438H Hajj Season, and safe shaving campaign to be carried out in 1439H Hajj Season.  

He listened to an elaborate presentation from the Institute's Dean, Dr. Atif Asghar on hand washing campaign aimed at increasing pilgrims awareness on the importance of washing hands with water and soap as an important element to control infection by means of developing a soap product of specific specifications compatible with the needs of pilgrims. This initiative will be carried out in Makkah, Madinah and the Holy Sites for more than two million pilgrim and will cover number of sites including; pilgrims' arrival lounges, toilets, and yards of the holy mosque and the prophet mosques. A number of bodies engaged in Hajj will participate in this campaign.

Meanwhile, Dr. Assas approved the steps undertaken by the Institute to implement this initiative which will protect –Allah willing- the pilgrims against disease and microbes. He lauded the boundless support provided and still for the University and the Institute, from the wise leadership to conduct studies necessary for developing Hajj and Umrah system, wishing all success for those involved in this initiative.  

 
Within the same vein, the Dean of the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, Dr. Atif bin Hussein Asghar, said this initiative comes as part of the social responsibility programs  undertaken by the Institute in collaboration with the different governmental sectors and agencies in Makkah. "These programs are derived from the scientific outcomes of the researches conducted by the institute as part of its contribution to serve pilgrims in line with the Kingdom Vision 2030", he elaborated.  

He added that the Institute seeks to achieve its strategic mission through this initiative. " This mission includes providing executive and training research and consultancy programs for developing a comprehensive system for Hajj and Umrah", he expounded, extending his gratitude to UQU President for his continuing and diligent support for all the initiatives of the Institute. 

For his part, the Dean of the College of Medicine, Dr. Anmar Nassir said number of  male and female students to participate in this imitative amount to about 300 at all levels of the college. He lauded UQU President for supporting such initiatives, and the Institute for organizing such initiatives and studies.