The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has disclosed that no fewer than 75 pregnant pilgrims have been referred to hospitals in the Holy Land of Makkah and Medina, to receive urgent medical attention.
This is as the commission noted that many pilgrims had ignored advisories and awareness campaigns against pregnant women embarking on the Hajj trip.
Usman Galadima of the Nigerian Medical team in Makkah made the disclosure during a chat with journalists on Wednesday, where he said that pregnant women were usually advised against attending the pilgrimage, due to the physically tasking nature of the exercise.
He further stated that of the 75 pregnant pilgrims, 30 of them had been referred to hospitals in Madina, while the other 45 had been referred to hospitals in Makkah.
He said: “We have had cases of advanced pregnancy. We have seen a case of seven months pregnancy that had to be admitted. We have those who had to be taken to Women’s Hospital in Makkah here for admission and urgent care. This is despite our cautionary call against pregnant women coming into the Kingdom (Saudi Arabia). This is because of the physical exhaustion and the tendency to have complications associated with such.
“We advised against pregnant women coming to Hajj. We have had so many cases of pregnant women coming for the Hajj. We have had so many referrals. In Medina, we have referred more than 30. In Makkah, we have referred up to 45”.
Galadima also lamented the failure of some of the pilgrims with chronic health challenges, especially diabetes and hypertension, to travel with their medications, despite efforts by NAHCON to enlighten the pilgrims. He also condemned Nigerian authorities’ seizure of patients’ drugs, noting that if the drugs were prescribed, the Saudi authorities would not confiscate them.
He added: “We have been managing those with chronic illnesses like diabetics, and hypertension. Some of them don’t come with their drugs despite our efforts on enlightenment. Once they see medication in original packs, they won’t take it away from them. But I understand that these drugs were confiscated at the Nigerian end, this is wrong.
“A traveller should be able to travel with their drugs once there is a prescription, once they are in their original packs. Many of them have come without their drugs. We have seen many patients with high blood sugar requiring admission.”
Meanwhile, the Commission revealed via its Twitter handle (@Nigeriahajjcom) on Thursday that 50,441 pilgrims had been airlifted to the Holy Land; 30,011 males and 20,430 females. Of the total, 10,947 are currently in Madinah, while 39,494 have been transported to Makkah.
