Safety precautions by HMC for Umrah pilgrims
As many Muslims are travelling to Saudia Arabia for performing Umrah, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is reminding pilgrims travelling from Qatar to take the necessary measures to make sure they are protected against contagious diseases.
Senior Consultant in Emergency Medicine at HMC, Dr. Saad Al Nuaimi, advised all Saudia bound travellers to take safety precautions against the most common illnesses that mostly include throat and upper respiratory tract and lung infections. These diseases are caused by viruses that spread amongst dense crowds.
Among the many safety measures Dr.Saad advised pilgrims to the simple 'cough hygiene' measures. These include using and careful disposal of tissues while coughing and sneezing to avoid catching any infections, washing hands frequently and avaoiding contact with eyes , nose or mouth.
Dr al-Nuaimi said certain people may postpone their pilgrimage for their own safety. This includes those aged above 65 years, pregnant women and children under 12 years old or anyone with chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart or kidney disease, or those with any sort of deficiencies.
It is also beneficial to carry medical/first aid kits, which contain plasters, dressings and painkillers in case of emergency.
Also carrying of daily used medicines, copies of prescriptions, as well as a doctor’s letter that describes the pilgrim’s medical history in detail.
Pilgrims must also keep in mind the high temperatures during day time and ensure that they circumbulate during less rush hours( mainly evening or night) to avoid loss of body fluid through excessive sweating (dehydration) and many heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke.
Excessive intake of water and regular application of sunblock is highly advised.
Dr al-Nuaimi said certain people may postpone their pilgrimage for their own safety. This includes those aged above 65 years, pregnant women and children under 12 years old or anyone with chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart or kidney disease, or those with respiratory problems or immune deficiencies.
Another important thing that the pilgrims are advised to look out for are the unclean shaving blades tha can transmit diseases liek Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and other blood related illnesses. Hence, pilgrims are to strictly avoid sharing blades with fellow pilgrims.
Dr.Saad also noted that such precautions are important measures in guarding against contracting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-CoV), a major respiratory illness which is a concern in the region.
The World Health Organisationalso recommends that prior to travel, pilgrims should consult a healthcare provider. [Gulf times]
Prevention is better than cure!
