By SALISU SANI-IDRIS

The National Medical Team of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed concern over the number of pregnant women that sneaked to the holy land for this year’s Hajj.

The Head of the Nigerian Medical Team, Dr Usman Galadima, stated this while answering questions from newsmen on Wednesday in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Galadima said one of the pregnant women had to be assisted to put to bed, while others had to be referred to women hospital for proper medical attention and care.

“We have seen different cases ranging from Malaria, which is common and upper respiratory tract infections, like cough, sore throat and managing those with chronic illness.

“Also we had cases of women with advance pregnancies with one with about seven months pregnancy and had to be admitted and delivered a seven months baby.

“We had those that we had to take to the women hospital in Makkah here on admission and urgent care. This is despite our cautionary calls against pregnant women coming into the Kingdom.”

He reiterated that it was not morally right to allow pregnant women to embark on pilgrimage due to the stress, risks and hazards such women are exposed to, or encounter during the exercise.

The head of the medical team also expressed concern that some pilgrims with underlining illnesses came to the holy land without their authorised medicaments.

According to him, Saudi Arabian security at the airports allow entry with such prescribed drugs if they are in their original packs and of reasonable quantity.

Galadima, however, said that information reaching him was that the drugs were normally seized right from Nigeria and not at any of the Saudi airports, due to lack of proper information, enlightenment and education on such drugs and medicaments, as they relate to such patients.

“This has exposed some of the patients to high risks and ultimately, admission and referrals to Saudi hospitals, as some of them have their sugar and blood pressure levels reached crisis level.”

He stated that the national medical team begun operation in Madinah and established about four clinics within the cluster of pilgrims accommodation.

“We are seeing between 150 to 200 pilgrims everyday since the establishment of the clinics. And we moved to Makkah since May 28, and so far we have established three clinics in Makkah.

“And in Makkah we plan to have up to seven clinics as pilgrims come we will go ahead to establish more clinics where they are concentrated,” he explained. (NAN)

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