Nigerian pilgrims have been cautioned against allowing themselves to stay without eating and over labouring themselves during this year’s Hajj activities.

Dr. Usman Galadima, Head of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) medical team at the commission’s Health Centre in Makkah, gave the warning on Sunday in Makkah while disclosing the major ailments being suffered by pilgrims in the 2016 operation.

“Most of the cases recorded are stress related and low sugar level as a result of hunger.

“So far, out of the 33 cases brought to the center, most of them are ulcer, body pain, malaria with only four put under observation and discharged.

“So, we strongly advice pilgrims to rest very well and plan their activities in order of priorities and to ensure that they eat very well,” he said.

Isyaku Alhaji Mamman, a pilgrim from Zamfara with leg injury said he feels at home with the medical attention at the clinic. “In fact, I came today for dressing of the injury and the personnel are very friendly,” he said.

Dr. Ibrahim Kana, Commissioner representing Federal Ministry of Health on the board of NAHCON, in a chat with our reporter on the arrangement for pilgrims’ medical care in Medina, Makkah and Jedda, explained that Nigeria has a working agreement to refer patients that require secondary care to any of the Saudi government facilities.

“With our referral, treatment there is free irrespective of the severity of the condition, even brain surgeries, dialysis, etc. In fact, the contract is that our facilities can’t keep patients beyond 48 hours. Two of our pilgrims have already undergone surgery in Medina,” he said.

Dr. Kana said medical services have commenced at the five designated clinics in Makkah. He said the clinics sited at the pilgrims areas of Masfala 2, Nakasa, and Sarul Mansur are to cater specifically for the Nigerian pilgrims.

Dr. Kana said that the National Medical Team clinic in House number five of Kaduna State in Misfalah and in other locations in Makkah, would be operational any moment from now once more medical personnel arrive from Nigeria. “But my colleagues have since cleared and cleaned the facility, with equipment ready,” he added.

A visit by our reporter to King Abdulazeez Hospital in Makkah confirmed that a pilgrim, Yunusa Sambo from Kaduna State, who is suffering from Hemorrhoids (pile), has been admitted in the intensive care unit of the hospital was being prepared for surgery at no cost.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows a medical personnel attending to a patient at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Health Centre in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

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