Pilgrims to undergo medical screening

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Minister says medically unfit people will be disallowed from going for Hajj

The Minister of State for the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide has said that intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia are to be screened to ascertain their medical status.

She made this known during a visit to her office by the officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in Abuja on Friday.

Akinjide said the screening was necessary to prevent pilgrims with health challenges from embarking on the trip. 

She said that any pilgrim who refuses to be screened would not be allowed to partake in the pilgrimage, irrespective of his or her status in society.

“We have to be firm and resolute on this medical issue. Cases of pregnant women and others who are medically unfit going on pilgrimage should be discouraged,” Akinjide said. 

She called on the FCT Pilgrims Welfare Board, to conduct its operations with transparency and equity while registering pilgrims. 

The minister said the board should ensure that adequate facilities were put in place at the Hajj camp before the commencement of the exercise. 

The Chairman of NAHCON, Muhammad Bello, assured the minister that the commission would ensure that pilgrims’ welfare was improved upon. 

Bello said the commission would also provide suitable accommodation and adequate security for pilgrims. 

He added that the National Security Committee would soon come up with security guidelines for the 2012 Hajj, as part of measures to ensure the success of the exercise.

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