• 30 pilgrims down with mental illnesses, medics pledge care
• FRSC mobilises personnel, logistics to prevent crashes, gridlock

As rites of the 2023 Hajj begin tomorrow, over two million Muslims participating in the exercise have been urged to abide by the rules to ensure a hitch-free pilgrimage. A total of 95,000 Muslims from Nigeria are among pilgrims who will converge on the plain of Arafat tomorrow.

Also, the medical mission of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) recorded 15,860 medical consultations since May 26, 2023, when Nigerian pilgrims began to arrive in Saudi Arabia.

The figures emerged Saturday night at a pre-Arafat meeting with stakeholders in Makkah. NAHCON’s head of medical team, Dr. Galadima Usman, revealed that as of Saturday, June 24, six deaths of Nigerian pilgrims were confirmed, adding that eight communicable diseases, 30 psychiatric cases and seven pilgrims with pregnancies were also recorded.

Usman was, however, quick to say all the cases were being managed to ensure the patients perform their rites successfully. He noted that the medical team is passionate about ensuring reduction in casualty rate among Nigerian pilgrims.

“We have seen that there is increased morbidity and even mortality in the Kingdom. And this is because of the stress the performance of Hajj puts on the body. That is why we are here. We are trying as much as possible to assist as many people as possible. We take care of them. Those we can handle in our own facilities, we do. And those we cannot, we take them outside. Particularly, for pregnant women, we want to organise antenatal care for them because they are already here and it’s our responsibility to take care of their health.” He said the team comprises psychiatrists who manage the mental health of patients.

“We refer to them as mental health patients. We have been managing them in our facilities. We have about four psychiatrists (doctors) in the team. We also have nurses. So, we have been managing them. All of them will likely perform Hajj because they are a bit stable now.”

At the meeting were: Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan; Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Yahaya Lawal; NAHCON commissioners; senior management staff of the commission; officials of states’ pilgrim welfare boards, representatives of private tour operators and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, ahead of Eid el Kabir, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has directed mobilisation of logistics and personnel to guarantee safe travel for road users before, during and after the celebration.

Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, who disclosed this in a statement, yesterday, said the special patrol operation would begin tomorrow and end July 1, 2023.
Kazeem said about 750 patrol vehicles, 120 ambulances, 25 tow trucks and over 200 bikes would be on the road during the operation.

“FRSC has over the years developed this tradition of always organising special patrol operations during festive periods, as a way of averting the chaos that characterises roads during such celebrations. This year’s Eid el Kabir will not be an exemption,” he said.

Kazeem added that the corridors to be covered are: Akwanga-Lafiya-Makurdi, Jos-Bauchi-Gombe, Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu and Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos, among others.