…As Pregnant Women, Pilgrims over 65 years banned from HAJJ

Deputy Health Minister says “Sierra Leonean Pilgrims are Free from Swine Flu.”  After screening pilgrims from Sub-Saharan African countries, including Sierra Leone for the H1N1 virus at various entry points to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and found none to have symptoms of the Swine Flu, the Saudi Arabian Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine, Dr. Ziad Al–Memish was quite pleased.

A close aide to the Minister, Abdul Latif who was speaking to Sierra Leone’s Press Attaché to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Jalloh at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah last Tuesday shortly after the arrival and screening of the second batch of Sierra Leonean pilgrims said:

“We have so far not identified pilgrims from Sub-Saharan African countries, including your country, with high body temperatures during the screening operation at both Medina and Jeddah International Airports where most of your people landed,” adding, “and that means they are all alright.”

Meanwhile, as what the authorities here described as a “preventive measure”, the Health Ministry recently announced that it has barred pregnant women, men and women above the age of 65 and others who suffer from chronic diseases from performing this year’s Hajj. But the Ministry also hasten to add that: “We can’t return them if they are already here.” 

Health officials are using thermal cameras at all the airports to identify swine flu cases. The ministry has also advised people to wear dust masks, cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, wash hands frequently and observe good personal hygiene during the Hajj.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia Hajj Ministry emphasized that all Hajj pilgrims from abroad should present official certificate proving they have been vaccinated against swine flu, meningitis and seasonal flu. They also advised foreign pilgrims to be accompanied by their medical doctors; conditions which have been collaboratively fulfilled by both the government of Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Hajj Mission led by Sheik Ahmed Tejan Sillah.

The Medical Doctor accompanying the 515 Sierra Leonean pilgrims that have so far arrived, Dr. Abdulai Jalloh, who doubles as the Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Sierra Leone Ports Authority has also said in Medinah that the Sierra Leonean pilgrims “are in good shape in their respective hotels.”   

Alhaji Jalloh, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, Saudi Arabia

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