Health Ministry advises pilgrims to follow general safety guidelines

The Ministry of Health has recommended all pilgrims to adopt and follow the general safety guidelines and health conditions. Dr. Abdul Karim Al Zarooni, Acting Head of Official Haj Delegation, stated that every pilgrim must go to the nearest preventive medicine department to take the necessary quadruple vaccine known as "meningitis" before travelling at least 10 days. An official vaccination must be shown to the local authorities as a basic requirement for entry visa to Saudi Arabia. All children must also obtain the same vaccinations if they go with their parents for pilgrimage. Every pilgrim must put a bracelet around his/her left wrist during pilgrimage stating his/her full name as written in the passport, address in the United Arab Emirates, Name of Haj Operator, Name of Medical Delegation, Age, Mobile No .etc. The wrist bracelet must also consist of the pilgrim's health condition such as his/her blood type, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure .etc. Al Zarooni added that each pilgrim must refer to the medical delegation "or campaign's doctor" after finishing the rituals and before his/her return trip to the UAE to take the necessary antibiotic vaccinations and protect his/her family members and visitors from any infection that may happen. The head of the medical delegation advised pilgrims to abide by all the general health safety conditions avoid crowded areas or gatherings; avoid exhaustion at the time of their rituals especially "Arafat Day", avoid excessive heat and protect themselves from sunstrokes and overheat exhaustion. Every pilgrim must also drink lots of liquids and abide by cleanliness conditions such as frequent bathing, home cleanliness, avoid throwing in the streets but put them in special tied bags, have light and well known source clean meals, avoid heavy meals or excessive meats. They can also add normal amounts of salts to their foods unless the pilgrim suffers from high blood pressure; wash fresh vegetables and fruits with clean running water, not incarcerate urine for a long time as this may lead to inflammation, immediately go to the campaign's doctor in case he/she suffers from any diseases or symptoms. All pilgrims and children above two years old are provided the meningitis vaccination before their travel except pregnant women unless it is necessary. Sometimes the meningitis vaccination has simple side effects such as simple redness, temporary burning feeling and slight temperature increase. The vaccine is available in all the preventive medicine departments in the entire medical district. Free medical tests checkups are provided for all pilgrims through the health cards that were given by the health centers to the Hajj campaign operators. It is preferable to do the tests in the centers the pilgrims registered their information in as their disease history and health file would be a great benefit. "These health procedures are set by Saudi Arabia to ensure the safety of the pilgrims from any infectious diseases and state the importance of obtaining a valid meningitis vaccination certificate either during Haj or Umrah or before the arrival of the pilgrim to Saudi Arabia not less than 10 days and not more than 3 years," Al Zarooni concluded.