The Borno State Amirul Hajj, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, has called for special attention and care to elderly and weak pilgrims during today’s Arafat Day rites.
The Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH) has issued advisory, warning Hajj pilgrims of the dangers of exposure to high surface temperatures in the Holy Sites, which could reach up to 72 degrees Celsius in some areas.
Speaking against the backdrop, Senator Shehu said the Borno State pilgrims have been relocated from Makkah to Mina and comfortably accommodated ahead of the journey to the plain of Arafat today (Saturday).
He directed the state’s medical team to carefully attend to the elderly and sick pilgrims to ensure they all performed a seamless operation.
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Shehu said the medical team has provided various medical services to over 400 pilgrims in Madina and Makkah, noting that they have profiled the elderly and identified pilgrims with illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and even sickle cell anaemia, for any eventualities.
He called on pilgrims to adhere strictly to all health advice and instructions, and use umbrellas to avoid direct exposure to the sun, and drink water in sufficient quantities throughout the day, even if they did not feel thirsty.
To ensure security of pilgrims, Shehu said the Amirul hajj committee has screened and ensured that only pilgrims with NUSUK identity cards were allowed into the state tents.
He said, apart from support from the medical team, preachers, welfare guides as well as members of the security committee were deployed to ensure a seamless exercise.