HOLY SITES – It is a common sight to see doctors helping pilgrims during Haj, but it is truly astonishing to learn that one team of Saudi doctors is an entire family of five.
This is the proud family of Dr. Taha Al-Khateeb, his wife Amaal Al-Shanti and three daughters Maram, Manar and Malak.
Al-Khateeb and his wife have loved the medical profession since the day they took the oath. They passed this love to their three daughters, who are also now helping the sick and infirm.
Dr. Al-Khateeb and his family said they enjoy being part of this profession because they can always be together. They also derive great satisfaction from seeing patients smile and recover from their illnesses.
They each work in their own specialization at the biggest hospital in Mina.
Dr. Al-Khateeb has worked as a medical officer during Haj for nearly 25 years. He is currently the Supervisor General of Health Services for Haj and Umrah. His wife works as a general practitioner. His eldest daughter Maram worked as a volunteer for seven years before becoming the first woman volunteer doctor for Haj. She is a tutor in the Surgery Department at King Abdul Aziz University.
Manar and Malak were also inspired and followed in the footsteps of their older sister.
Dr. Al-Khateeb said: “I strove to convince Manar to join the Faculty of Medicine while Maram and Malak chose the profession out of their own will.” He said all the members of his family have been scoring the highest grades at all stages of their education. He said that they are highly respected by fellow workers in the health sector.
On the day they spoke to Okaz, Manar planted a kiss on her father’s head as a sign of respect because it was he who guided her to take up medicine – the profession of humanitarianism – Okaz/SG
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