Riyadh, November 01, 2023, The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia, have joined forces in a strategic partnership agreement aimed at bolstering the enforcement of global health regulations for incoming vessels. This collaboration is a crucial step in fortifying public health risk prevention measures and was formalized on the sidelines of the Global Health Exhibition, which took place from October 29 to 31 under the theme 'Invest in Health' at the Roshn Front Exhibition and Convention Center in Riyadh. The event saw the presence of government officials, investors, healthcare leaders, and experts.
Capt. Yousef Alhosan, Vice President for Policies and Legislations at Mawani, and Dr. Hani Joukhadar, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Public Health, jointly signed the agreement.
This partnership underscores the shared commitment to upholding maritime safety and ensuring port security through the surveillance of health risks associated with vessels entering the Kingdom's ports. It involves implementing preventative measures, offering top-tier health services to maritime crews and passengers, and streamlining the clearance processes for vessels.
The collaboration will further strengthen the cooperation between Mawani and the Ministry of Health in implementing global health regulations at Saudi ports. This includes conducting health inspections, issuing or renewing health certificates for vessels, delivering health services, and ensuring that port health centers are fully equipped to provide health check certificates. It also encompasses the exemption of ships from health check certificates and enhances preparedness and response for public health emergencies at ports.
The agreement also extends to preventive health measures for passengers and maritime crews, involving medical screening and testing. It ensures easy access to health services, offers ambulance and medical transportation services, safeguards environmental safety at passenger terminals, and ensures they are devoid of public health hazards. The partnership also actively monitors the spread of communicable diseases at ports and their surroundings while executing infection control measures and assessing their efficacy.
Additionally, the agreement enables the thorough examination of vessels arriving from various global destinations to ascertain their freedom from public health risks. This comprehensive approach includes the scrutiny of the ship's health documents, the implementation of health inspections, the supervision of health measures, the formulation of preventive plans, and the establishment of communication strategies between port stakeholders. This exchange of information helps in reporting public health hazards and taking necessary corrective actions.
