There seems to be no end to demands by various authorities to Haj pilgrims this year. After demands from Saudi government for compulsory international passport, seasonal flu certificate, and treatment for meningitis, the Consul General of India in Jeddah has written to the Haj Committee of India (HCI) to arrange swine flu kits for the pilgrims.
In a letter Sayeed Ahmed Baba, Counsul General of India in Jeddah stated that 10 N95 masks and other medicines including vitamin tablets as advised by doctors be given to each pilgrim before they leave India. Over 1 lakh pilgrims from India are expected to undertake Haj this year.
Talking to DNA, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HCI, Mohammed Owais said, “We have recently received a letter and we are deciding on what needs to be done. A committee is already formed that is looking into vaccination of swine flu and the pros and cons of the advanced treatment that can be given to the pilgrims.” When asked about the difficulties pilgrims could face in procuring masks in the city due to its shortage, Owais said, “Mostly the external affairs ministry will have to handle the part of providing medicinal kits, but a decision is awaited.”
Owais said a symptomatic screening to check swine flu will anyways be conducted at the various embarkation points where pilgrims are expected to come two days before the journey. The Haj begins from October 21 and there are 19 embarkation points in the country. At all these places, doctors will be stationed as per the number of devotees. The checks for seasonal flu too will be conducted here.
“Pilgrims will be stopped if they are suffering from the flu but once they recover, they can try again,” said Owais. Prototype of National certificate for the flu will be sent to the houses of the pilgrims by the state Haj committees after they get it from the Central government. Only after the doctors clear them of any seasonal flu and give their remarks on the certificates will they be allowed to go.
