The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Medical Team to this year’s Hajj exercise, has expressed concerns over the attitude of some Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, especially in Makkah, not adhering to medical advice of protecting themselves against the scorching sun and heat waves in the Kingdom.
The Head of the Medical Team, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Isma’eel expressed his displeasure over the nonchalant attitude of the pilgrims to wise medical counsel, which exposes them to risks and hazards of the scorching sun and harsh weather conditions being experienced in the holy land, saying weather forecast has shown that the situation would aggravate in the coming days when the weather is expected to hover around 50 degrees Celsius.
Speaking to Freedom Radio Group, Kaduna Station, Dr. Abubakar Isma’eel said already some pilgrims are now suffering from its effects , adding that it took some medical efforts to resuscitate a pilgrim who collapsed as a result of the heat stroke.
The Head of the Medical Team, who enumerated some of the signs of heat stroke to include, thirst, headache, exhaustion, as a result of dehydration reiterated NAHCON’s admonishment to pilgrims to religiously guard their health and avoid loitering and walking aimlessly in the scorching sun, as that exposes them to sun and heat strokes which could be fatal.
He drew the attention of the pilgrims already in the holy land, and those being airlifted to the holy land to realise that the actual Hajj exercise is days away and therefore, it was unwise for them to expose themselves to risks and hazards that might prevent them from performing the Hajj rites at their stipulated times, in spite of expending huge amount of money to be in Saudi Arabia in the name of performing Hajj.
Dr. Abubakar Isma’eel also called on state pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions to rein on their pilgrims, the need to strictly adhere to medical advice on how they conduct themselves, for their comfort and wellbeing.
He also appealed to NAHCON, Ulama Team and other Islamic scholars to preach to the pilgrims against deliberately and unnecessarily exposing themselves to dangers, hazards and risks associated with loitering and walking aimlessly in the scorching heat and sun.
Meanwhile, Dr. Abubakar Isma’eel who confirmed that the two certified Nigeria’s Clinics at Masfala/Kudei and Sharee’a Al-Mansuor in Makkah have since swung into action attending to Nigerian pilgrims and other nationals seeking medical attention, hoping that the other three Triage Outposts clinics would soon be operational going by the assurances from the Saudi Authorities.
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