Damascus, (SANA)-Health preparations continue for the 7th Regional Games of Special Olympics in Middle East and North Africa (SOMENA) due to be held in Damascus between September 25 and October 3.

Deputy Health Minister Osama Sammaq told SANA that the Ministry is working to build a health and medical center in al-Faiha Sport City, which will be provided with the latest equipment and well-qualified technical, medical and nursing staffs to conduct full checks for the participants and to provide all necessary medical services during the tournament competitions.

The Ministry has also prepared ambulances to be ready around the clock and scaled up preparedness at hospitals in Damascus for cases of emergencies or injuries for the participant athletes, Sammaq added.

Head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at the Ministry Asaad al-Saad said since the beginning of preparations, the Ministry has conducted detailed checks for all the Syrian athletes participating in the Special Olympics and supplied the training camps with fully equipped ambulances, adding the final stage of preparations will include performing checks for all the participants to testify their physical fitness and ability to go for the competition.

Al-Saad added that beside the medical center, the Ministry will also provide first aid points to cover the residence places of the athletes and all the locations where the games and competitions will be held.

Haifa