920 Sierra Leoneans set to leave Mecca this week
Doctors satisfied with health condition of pilgrims
The doctors that accompanied Sierra Leone pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Muslim pilgrimage (hajj) have so far recorded no cases of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS coronavirus, among their pilgrims. (Photo: Dr. Sesay flanked by Dr. Ayeshatu and Nurse Mariama)
Dr. Momodu Sesay, Director of Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health and Sanitation and head of the medical team to Saudi and Dr. Ayeshatu M. Mustapha of the Ola During Children’s Hospital in Freetown made the disclosure in an interview conducted with them at their Mecca clinic shortly before they left for Medina a few days ago.
“The health condition of the 920 Sierra Leoneans who have completed their hajj rites in the Holy land this year is relatively good and satisfactory”, the doctors disclosed.
“No case of epidemic diseases has been reported so far, except some few cases of upper respiratory tract infections like cold, cough and influenza,” the doctors said. They were also quick to say that some of these communicable diseases were due to change of weather and environment. “But our team is doing its level best to help improve the health condition of the pilgrims.”
Doctor Sesay talking about the heath of the Sierra Leone pilgrims
The doctors also paid special tribute to the Government of Sierra Leone for providing them with essential drugs for use in Saudi Arabia. “These drugs have helped us a lot.” They said they were also grateful to the Saudi Health Ministry for its support since their arrival.
Other members of the medical team include, Mariama Ramatu Mansaray, Principal Health Sister, National Aids Secretariat and Mabinty Timbo of the Government hospital, Lumley.
It could be recalled that the Saudi Health Ministry announced a few months before the pilgrimage that it would sharply cut back on hajj visas for the elderly, children under 12, pregnant women and unwell, urging them to postpone their pilgrimages in order to curb the spread of MERS.
The Ministry also monitored pilgrims’ compliance with hajj health instructions in their home countries and checked whether the appropriate vaccines were taken before their departure. It also provided well-trained healthcare personnel, equipped with the latest devices to detect any symptoms of disease in pilgrims.
Meanwhile, officials of the Sierra Leone Hajj Mission have said that the pilgrims will commence departing the Jeddah Hajj Terminal of the King Abdul Aziz International Airport this week. The first batch of 503 is expected to arrive at the Lungi International Airport on Friday 8th November, 2013 and 417 of them the following day.
Hajj is believed to be the world’s largest annual gathering and it’s one of the five pillars of Islam – a journey that all able-bodied Muslims are expected to carry out at least once in their lifetime, if they have the financial means.
By Alhaj M.B Jalloh and Dauda Musa Bangura
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