Intending pilgrims for the 2015 Hajj to Saudi Arabia from Jigawa State will undergo screening for Ebola Virus Disease, hypertension, diabetes and malaria.
Executive Secretary of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhassan Muhammad, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday July 14, 2015 in Dutse.
Muhammad said the screening was to ascertain the health status of the prospective pilgrims before they embark on the pilgrimage.
The executive secretary recalled that Nigeria had been declared EVD-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) “but the board is taking precautionary measures to protect the state’s pilgrims from contracting the diseases.”
He said all prospective pilgrims in the state must be screened before they would be allowed to pay their fare.
He added that final screening would be conducted at the airport to stop pregnant women from embarking on the journey.
“All intending pilgrims must be screened by our medical team before they will be allowed to pay their fare. Final screening will be conducted at the airport especially to stop pregnant women from embarking on the journey.”
The secretary said the board had concluded all necessary arrangements to secure good accommodation for the pilgrims in the Holy Land.