No fewer than Six Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2023 Hajj in Saudi Arabia has been confirmed dead by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Usman Galadima, Head of the NAHCON 2023 Hajj medical team, confirmed this on Saturday during a meeting of the commission in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
He said the delegations from Osun and Kaduna States for the 2023 Hajj recorded two deaths each, while Plateau State recorded one.
Galadima also disclosed that the team diagnosed 30 patients with mental challenges.
According to him, they are currently undergoing treatment and expected to perform hajj.
“We have been managing them in our facilities. We have about four psychiatrists in the team. We have been managing them and all of them would likely perform hajj because they are a bit stable now,”
He further stated that the 2023 Hajj clinic recorded two miscarriages and delivered one baby.
To address the mortality rate, Mr Galadima called for the strengthening of the pre-hajj medical screening of intending pilgrims.
Galadima added that there is a need to restrict those deemed to be “not fit to travel”.
