The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has advised intending pilgrims with underlying sicknesses and other medical conditions that make them perpetually on prescribed drugs to travel with them, but little.
The NAHCON advised that the patients could carry the drugs that would last them three days usage before locating NAHCON Clinics in Madinah and or Makkah.
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi gave the advice on Freedom Radio Group, Kaduna Station, Hausa programme, Barka Da Warhaka.
The Chairman said the Commission was in agreement with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the Saudi authorities that such patient pilgrims would be allowed passage with little quantity of their prescribed medicaments.
He however, advised that such patient pilgrims should have doctor’s prescription and the drugs properly packaged before they would be allowed passage at both Nigerian and Saudi Airports.
Malam Jalal Arabi, said in view of the fact that not all pilgrims are well enlightened, the Commission in conjunction with State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions have made adequate arrangements for such patients to be assisted with prescription and good packaging of their drugs by qualified, certified and responsible medical doctors at the various Hajj Camps and departure centres.
The NAHCON boss said the measure became necessary in view of the pathetic serious conditions and predicaments some of these patients, refused passage with their drugs, found themselves in the past, while on transit and before getting to NAHCON Clinics in Madinah and or Makkah, a situation he said led to some of them to be hospitalized at the end.
