The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has revealed that Nigeria lost 14 pilgrims in Saudi Arabia from the beginning of ongoing 2023 Hajj to date.

The Chief of Operations and Head of the NAHCON National Medical Team, Dr Usman Galadima, made this known during a post-Arafat meeting with stakeholders in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday

Galadima disclosed that seven pilgrims died before Arafat, six died during the five-day Mashair (core Hajj period), while one person died after the Arafat.

He said: “We had six reported death at Mashair, four died in Arafat and the other two died in Mina. Already we lost seven pilgrims before Arafat and just now I have just been informed that we lost another pilgrim. This brings the total of deaths recorded to 14.

“The mortality rate is similar to that of 2019.”

The NAHCON official added that the medical team recorded three cases of chickenpox during the core Hajj period, saying the affected pilgrims were immediately moved out of the area as a preventive measure to avoid the spread of the disease.

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Galadima further disclosed that the team recorded two deliveries during the period of Hajj ritual in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, adding that one of the pregnant women delivered on the road, while the second one was brought to the clinic and delivered safely.

He stressed the need for a thorough pre-Hajj medical screening with the issuance of a certificate of medical fitness.

He stated that elderly pilgrims and those that are very sick should be discouraged from participating in the symbolic devil stoning at Jamrat because of the stress involved.

On his part, the NAHCON Head of Aviation, Goni Sanda, disclosed that the transport of pilgrims back to Nigeria would begin on Tuesday, July 4.

Sanda said the policy of first in, first out would strictly be applied in the evacuation of the pilgrims back to Nigeria.

He further stated that the Saudi authorities have a policy that in the first two weeks, the air carriers would not operate maximally due to the volume of traffic and the large number of aircraft involved in the evacuation of pilgrims from different countries, as well as the fact that virtually all planes will take off from one Airport, the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah.

He stated that in the first two weeks of the start of the transportation of pilgrims, Flynas would only utilise four of its six aircraft for the operation, adding that the other two are undergoing some checks and maintenance.

The Star