The National Medical Team of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed worry over the presence of pregnant women on this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Dr Usman Galadima, the head of the Nigerian Medical Team, raised these concerns while addressing journalists in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Dr Galadima revealed that one pregnant woman had to give birth with the assistance of the medical team, while others had to be referred to women’s hospitals for proper medical attention. He further stated that they had encountered cases of malaria, upper respiratory tract infections, and women with advanced pregnancies, some as far as seven months along.
“We had to admit one pregnant woman and assist in the delivery of her seven-month-old baby. We also had to urgently admit other pregnant women to the women’s hospital in Makkah for proper care, despite our warnings against pregnant women participating in the pilgrimage,” Dr Galadima said.
He emphasized that it is not morally right to allow pregnant women to embark on the Hajj due to the stress, risks, and hazards involved in the exercise. Dr Galadima also expressed concerns about pilgrims with underlying illnesses who failed to bring their authorized medications.
According to him, Saudi Arabian security at the airports allow entry with prescribed drugs if they are in their original packaging and in reasonable quantities. However, he noted that the drugs were often seized in Nigeria due to a lack of proper information and education on the rules regarding such medications for patients.
“This has exposed some patients to high risks, resulting in admission and referrals to Saudi hospitals, as their sugar and blood pressure levels have reached critical levels,” he added.
The national medical team commenced their operations in Madinah, establishing four clinics within the pilgrims’ accommodation areas. They have been attending to 150 to 200 pilgrims daily since the establishment of these clinics. In Makkah, they have already set up three clinics and plan to establish up to seven more clinics to serve the increasing number of pilgrims.
It is crucial for authorities to increase awareness and education about the risks associated with pregnant women participating in the Hajj. Additionally, ensuring that pilgrims with underlying medical conditions have access to their prescribed medications would greatly reduce health-related complications during the pilgrimage.
