Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — It is inarguable that one of the noblest professions is medicine as doctors tirelessly treat and serve patients, day in and day out. Now, during the Haj season, doctors fortunate enough to be in the vicinity of the Holy City of Makkah have been elevated into the honorable position of serving pilgrims, the guests of Allah.



No better time or place can open up more opportunities for a doctor to gain rewards, to serve, to heal, and to console than during the sacred days of Haj and in the holy sites.



Fully understanding the rewards of serving pilgrims, Abrar Ghulam, 22 years old and fifth year medical student, has volunteered to work in the emergency room of one of the main hospitals in Makkah for ten days straight at the peak of the Haj season.



With over 2 million people gravitating towards Makkah, the hospital needs all the experienced hands it can get.



Abrar Ghulam works 12 to 15 hours a day at Al Noor Hospital and the only stipends she receives are supplications from her patients, a warm squeeze on her hand from an elderly woman she helped, a smile, and a heartfelt thank you. These are sacred days when good deeds are rewarded ten-fold or one hundred-fold, so she feels blessed to serve as a doctor in Makkah.



“Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I want to help people, to save lives, to ease their pain. It has been my parents’ wish to see me as a doctor, and this year I have begun to realize my dream.



These few days have been tiring but they have been the most wonderful days of my life. It is satisfying beyond words to help a pilgrim recover, get well, and then leave the hospital to continue his spiritual journey that he has traveled across continents for,” said Dr. Ghulam.



It would not have been possible for a young Saudi woman to work until such odd hours of the night if she was not hardworking and determined and if she did not have a supportive family.



“I worked for the whole month of Ramadan every day, coming home at late hours of the night and my parents never complained or discouraged me. They encouraged me every step of the way, including my friend and confidant, Ilham Yapah,” said Dr. Ghulam.



As for the cases that the emergency room doctors in Al Noor Hospital have treated, there has been a high incidence of wounds and bone fractures from crowding or other minor accidents. The majority of their patients are among the elderly who are frail and they are also prone to respiratory ailments.



“Many pilgrims due to erratic travel schedules, exhaustion, and becoming emotionally overwhelmed by being in this sacred and dear place may overlook or forget to take their medications. We have seen a number of patients with heart and high blood pressure complications because they have skipped some of their medications, so I strongly recommend all pilgrims to stick to their drug regimen,” said Dr. Ghulam.



“We have also seen a great deal of food poisoning cases that cause uncomfortable symptoms. The problem is that some food vendors sell food that has not been kept in proper conditions or covered well or maintained at the correct temperatures, which results in food poisoning. I advise pilgrims to avoid buying food from places that clearly do not follow proper hygiene regulations,” added Dr. Ghulam.



In the eyes of her patients, this young doctor is a hero. Yet, she considers herself to still be a student and she is learning something new every day. Her supervisors, Dr. Hamza Abu Taleb, Dr. Abdul Alziz Al-Qaissi, and Dr. Mohammad Mirza have been right behind her, teaching her new techniques, supporting her, and giving her the confidence she needs to become a great doctor. She has a promising future and while it is a very rare choice for female doctors in the Kingdom, she wants to become a surgeon.