According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), 14 Nigerian pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia since the start of the ongoing 2023 Hajj operation.
This was announced by Dr. Usman Galadima, Chief of Operations and Head of the NAHCON National Medical Team, on Sunday in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at a post-Arafat meeting with stakeholders.
Seven pilgrims passed away before Arafat, six during the five-day Mashair (main Hajj period), and one more after Arafat, according to Galadima.
“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,” he said.
He further disclosed that during the main hajj period, the medical team discovered three cases of chickenpox, and the affected pilgrims were swiftly removed from the area as a precaution to stop the disease from spreading.
Galadima also said that the team had two safe deliveries during the hajj rite in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, with one of the pregnant women having given birth on the road and the other having been moved to the clinic.
He emphasized the importance of receiving a certificate of medical fitness along with a thorough pre-hajj medical examination.
He added that because to the strain involved, it is best to prevent elderly pilgrims and those who are very ill from taking part in the symbolic devil stoning at Jamrat.
Alhaji Goni Sanda, the NAHCON Head of Aviation, stated during his presentation that the return of pilgrims to Nigeria would start on Tuesday, July 4.
First in, first out, he declared, would be strictly adhered in the evacuation of the pilgrims back to Nigeria.
