RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman on Sunday launched the air ambulance service of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) and inspected one of the three planes that have been put into service in Riyadh province.
He praised the efforts of Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, chairman of SRCA, in developing the Red Crescent’s services. The new service will ensure quick transportation of patients and accident victims to hospitals.
Prince Salman earlier chaired a meeting of the Prince Sultan Emergency and First-Aid Program, which was planned as an expression of happiness on the return of Crown Prince Sultan to the Kingdom after achieving full recovery.
The program includes establishment of a 180-bed hospital for treating emergency cases. Named after Prince Sultan, the hospital will receive emergency cases in Riyadh and surrounding areas. Nine beds will be allocated for burns and the remaining for intensive care.
Fifteen emergency first-aid centers with 15 primary health-care centers will also be established under the program in Riyadh, an official statement said, adding that the centers would receive 200 patients daily. A college for emergency medical services will also be established to provide specialized medical training in first-aid programs and disaster management. It is designed to train 300 to 500 graduates annually.
A center for first aid and emergency services will be established at King Khaled University Hospital to treat 400,000 patients annually.
Prince Sultan Endowment Tower for Health Research at King Saud University in Riyadh is another project, which is financed by businessman Muhammad bin Hussein Al-Amoudi. The nine-floor tower covers an area of 51,000 square meters. Prince Salman thanked the committee for its efforts to implement the projects.
He also urged businessmen to extend generous contributions to the program’s fund. Crown Prince Sultan has donated SR10 million to the program while Prince Salman and his family gave SR2 million, bringing the total contributions to more than SR80 million.
The meeting was attended by Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, Prince Muhammad bin Salman, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, King Saud University President Dr. Abdullah Al-Othman and other senior officials. The committee in charge of implementing the program commended Prince Salman’s keenness to carry out these charitable projects.