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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Stricter health checks key to fewer sick Hajj pilgrims this year

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Indonesia's Hajj health center reported fewer sick pilgrims this year compared to previous years.
  • This decrease is attributed to stricter health eligibility requirements implemented before departure.
  • Approximately 300 potential pilgrims were denied boarding due to failing health checks at the embarkation points.

Indonesia's Hajj health authorities have observed a significant decrease in the number of sick pilgrims during the post-peak Hajj period in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina. This year, the number of pilgrims requiring hospitalization after the main rituals was in the low 200s, a notable drop from over 300 during the same period last year.

Alhamdulillah, we can with this istitha’ah regulation, we have conducted many selections at the embarkation points.

— dr Dani PramudyaActing head of the Hajj Health Center, explaining the impact of stricter health eligibility rules.

Dr. Dani Pramudya, acting head of the Hajj Health Center at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, attributed this improvement to the ministry's policy of enforcing stricter health eligibility (istitha'ah) criteria before pilgrims depart for Saudi Arabia. "Alhamdulillah, with this istitha'ah regulation, we have conducted many selections at the embarkation points," Pramudya stated.

Alhamdulillah with the tightening of istitha’ah this, makes the number of illnesses also decrease.

— dr Dani PramudyaActing head of the Hajj Health Center, confirming the reduction in illnesses due to health screenings.

During the embarkation process, around 300 individuals were deemed unfit to fly and consequently barred from traveling to the Holy Land. "Alhamdulillah, with the tightening of istitha'ah, the number of illnesses has also decreased," Pramudya added, highlighting the effectiveness of the pre-departure health screenings.

So many of them are tired, so they end up short of breath.

— dr Dani PramudyaActing head of the Hajj Health Center, explaining the common cause of respiratory issues among pilgrims.

The most common ailments among Indonesian pilgrims this year were respiratory issues, particularly shortness of breath, often exacerbated by fatigue in elderly pilgrims with pre-existing conditions like chronic coughs or a history of tuberculosis. Heart attacks, linked to conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, were also reported as a significant concern.

Heart attacks because maybe there is a history of high blood pressure, then diabetes.

— dr Dani PramudyaActing head of the Hajj Health Center, discussing the contributing factors to heart problems among pilgrims.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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