Haj and Umrah pilgrims advised to fulfil health requirements

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has issued strict directives to prospective Haj and Umrah pilgrims from all over the world to fulfil all the necessary health requirements before entering the Kingdom.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the ministry, ordered its overseas diplomatic missions to inform the health ministries in their respective countries to strictly adhere to the health requirements.

"The ministry stressed the need to take all the precautionary measures by the pilgrims to ensure the Haj and Umrah season is free from all types of infectious diseases," the statement said while adding the Kingdom's keenness to exert all possible efforts to ensure the sound health of pilgrims.

Ambulances

A spokesman of the health ministry said that a circular has been dispatched to all the Saudi missions from the Foreign Ministry saying that visas would only be issued once vaccination certificates are presented against diseases such as meningitis, yellow fever and polio that are endemic in respective countries.

"Pilgrims are also advised that only canned foods will be allowed entry into the Kingdom," the spokesman said.

The ministry's statement comes following a meeting of the Haj Preparations Committee under the ministry on Monday as part of early preparations by the government departments and agencies to ensure a smooth and trouble free Haj.

The committee decided to purchase 20 fully equipped ambulances for use in the holy cities, as well as to increase the number of employees at medical warehouses in the holy cities.

Meningitis vaccination

Vaccination against meningitis is compulsory for pilgrims coming from all countries. The vaccination, which is valid for three years, should be taken ten days before the pilgrim's departure to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah

According to the circular, pilgrims coming from countries affected by yellow fever, such as Nigeria, Kenya, Congo, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia should bring a medical certificate showing that they received vaccination against the contagious disease.

Children under the age of 15 from African countries, as well as from Yemen, Nepal, India and Pakistan shall be vaccinated against polio before their departure for the Kingdom, the spokesman said quoting the circular.

The ministry especially noted that Saudi Arabia was successful in eradicating polio and received a certificate from the concerned UN agency that it is free from the disease.

The ministry also urged the pilgrims to take injections against seasonal influenza, an illness that can easily turn fatal for pilgrims who suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiac, renal and wheezing problems.