RIYADH: More than 1,300 people will take part in this year’s campaign by the Health Volunteer Center to provide healthcare services during Ramadan. Organized by the Ministry of Health, the Sawaed initiative seeks to encourage all forms of healthcare volunteering within a framework incorporating religious incentives. This year’s helpers will provide core, preventive and support services at health facilities in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Taif. They will assist pilgrims and visitors within emergency departments, help with screening services, and help the elderly and others with mobility issues to get around. The work also includes providing health tips and distributing general awareness material to visitors at the two holy sites. The center was established in 2019 to manage volunteer initiatives in the health sector and develop the capabilities of participants. It is considered one of the community contribution initiatives within the ministry’s National Transformation Program.