Minister of Health Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al Rabiah and President of Umm Al Qura University (UQU) Dr. Bakri Bin M'atoog Bin Bakri Assas on Thursday, Rabei' Al Akher 14, 1438H, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Global Center for Mass Gathering Medicine (GCMGM) and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research.

The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Health Minister Hamad Al-Dhewalia, Director-General of Makkah Health Affairs Dr. Mustafa Baljon, Head of Medical Services for Hajj and Umrah Affairs Dr. Hussein Ghanam, Vice-Deans of the University, Deans of the Medicine College and a number of officials at the Health Ministry. It was held at King Abdulaziz Historic Hall in Al-Abdiyah.

The Minister checked a number of mobile clinics and medical supplies, and tools. The ceremony was started after listening to few verses of the Holy Quran.

At the meeting, Dr. Assas addressed the attendees and welcomed the minister. He said: "We are proud to have this agreement which included a number of colleges and study programs accredited by international health organizations."

The Umm Al-Qura University has a wide range of experience to lend on the issues of mass gathering and crown management, he said, adding the university in gifted by a mix of specialists and qualified cadres in the field of pilgrimage services and the keen support of the leadership.

The university is a leading institution in many domains including hajj and umrah scientific research. He saluted the Minister of Health for signing the agreement which is expected to have positive impacts on the pilgrims service.

After delivering the speeches, the minister and the UQU President have signed the agreement.

In turn, Dr. Al Rabiah underscored cooperation between the UQU and the Ministry. He said the agreement's mechanism would be directly linked to Hajj researches and means to manage masses of pilgrims and diseases that may spread among crowds. He noted that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research was gifted by huge number of researches and studies that may be used in the Hajj services field.

In the same context, Dr. Ghalman said that the agreement states that the institute and the center shall hold consultation on all issues related to the efforts co-exerted to achieve the aspired objectives and exchange documents and information of common interest to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data needed for publish.

He said the agreement also includes domains of cooperation such as the mass gathering health program in order to upgrade health and safety measures. In addition, it stipulates a program shall be set to educate and train national cadres with the efficiency needed to provide health, emergency and disaster management services.

Under the agreement, they agreed on building relationships with domestic and international organizations and creating a channel of information and study communication, he said, adding they agreed on carrying out the researches that cover the institute's and the center's field of specialization to establish a mass health and management program and to cooperate to develop a database for researches and studies which would be used to set partnership plans.

Head of Medical Services for Hajj and Umrah Affairs asserted that the agreement would fruitfully be used to get information in the fields of environment, health and IT researches, mass gathering and crowd management studies and architectural designs. He extended thanks to Minister of Health for signing the agreement which would result in positive outcomes in order to improve services provided by the government for pilgrims.