3,000 prospective pilgrims undergo medical screening in Tamale

About 3,000 prospective pilgrims embarking on this year’s religious exercise are currently undergoing medical screening at the Tamale Sports Stadium.

They are being screened on Hepatitis B, diabetes, malaria, hypertension, blood group, blood sugar levels among other essential medical examination in order to ensure they are fit before embarking on the trip. The three-day exercise which started on Saturday, July 8, 2017 is expected end on Monday, July 10, 2017.

Medical screening of prospective pilgrims before Hajj is a new initiative taken by the Sheikh I. C. Quaye led Hajj Board to curb instances where pilgrims are deported for  illegally possessing drugs  in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Officials of the Hajj Board say they do not want pilgrims to be deported because of some drugs in their possession.

Head of the Ghana Hajj Board Medical Team, Doctor Zakaria said the screening will enable the team travel with the right medication, equipment and staff for the pilgrimage.

He noted in the past, prospective pilgrims were only required to go for yellow fever vaccines before embarking on the pilgrimage that accounted for some health related challenges since they were not medically screened.

Doctor Zakaria observed that since the team began the screening, they have been able to offer basic treatment for some of the pilgrims at no cost, adding that the medical team will be carefully selected to be in good standing to handle all forms of diseases the pilgrims may encounter.

The Ghana Hajj Board has disclosed that 6 flights will take off directly from the Tamale International Airport to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia starting on August 10, 2017.