PROSPECTIVE PILGRIMS IN UPPER EAST REGION COMMENDS GOVERNMENT FOR 2017 HAJJ PACKAGE
Muslims wishing to embark on this year’s Hajj in upper east region have commended the NPP government for this year’s Hajj package which includes pre-departure health screening, feeding in Mecca, quality transportation, stress free Hajj, well created Tamale hajj village, medical data base software, VISA efficiency and maximum welfare of pilgrims.
These were revealed during the pre-departure health screening exercise in Bolgatanga for prospective pilgrims as part of efforts to keep pilgrims healthy before, during and after the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The current pilgrims affairs office of Ghana known as Ghana hajj board since taking over from the previous board have instituted reforms in the operations of Ghana Hajj board to make it better. Among the reforms are pre-departure health screening, feeding in Mecca, quality transportation, stress free Hajj, well created Tamale hajj village, medical data base software, VISA efficiency, effective communication, effective Hajj task force, comprehensive Hajj DAWA, good relationship with Hajj agents and maximum welfare of pilgrims.
The first phase of the pre-departure health screening is almost ending across the country with huge turnout from prospective pilgrims and other Muslims who don’t have intensions of embarking on this year’s Hajj.
During the pre-departure health screening in Bolgatanga, 3news.com interacted with prospective pilgrims who came to be screened on their views on the exercise. Malam Aminu Abdul Rahaman expressed his satisfaction on the exercise saying this is the first time in the history of Ghana’s hajj operations that would-be pilgrims are screened before their VISAs are even ready. He therefore thanked the medical team of the Ghana Hajj board and government for their foresight in this year’s Hajj operations.
Hajia Maliya Abass who performed hajj in 2014 commended the current Hajj board especially the communication department of Hajj board for disseminating information regarding this year’s Hajj effectively through several media outlets. She said if the reform outlined by this Hajj board goes well, it will be the best so far in West Africa because she has witnessed other Hajj operations in other West African countries.
Quite numbers of people spoke to 3news.com and are satisfied with what they have heard from the hajj board regarding the reforms and pray all these reforms are implemented.
Dr Seidu Zakaria, the head of the medical team of Hajj board in Bolgatanga expressed joy on the turn out saying it is a sign of good things to come in delivering health care to pilgrims both in Ghana and Saudi Arabia. He thanked all the stakeholders who made the exercise a success.
Dr. Seidu Zakaria disclosed that, enough medical consumable and non-consumables will be sent to Saudi Arabia for effective health delivery. He said a qualified medical team will be constituted to handle different cases that will be recorded before, during and after Hajj 2017.
They are being screened on Hepatitis B, diabetes, malaria, hypertension, blood group, blood sugar levels and other communicable diseases. Through the diagnoses, the medical team would be able to know the kind of medical consumables and non-consumables to send to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and it will guide them on the type of medical team they will select. The Information technology (IT) department of the Hajj board has developed software which will be used to capture the medical data base of pilgrims for easy health delivery.
Pilgrims who were screened nationwide were referred to health facilities for proper health care. Apart from the health screening, the medical team on outreach educated would-be pilgrims on lifestyles and type of exercises because Hajj rituals requires fitness, regular medical checkups, hand washing techniques and good physical foresight.
In a telephone interview with head of communications of Ghana Hajj board, Alhaji Abdul Rahaman Gomda, he said all is set for a successful 2017 Hajj looking at the arrangements and programs undertaken so far nationwide. He has therefore commended all media networks in Ghana for disseminating the operations of the board and wish the relationship that existed between his office and the media remains solid for the success of the Ghana Hajj board.
The first flight according the schedules of the board is expected to take off from Tamale international airport on August 10, 2017 from the six flights schedule in Tamale for pilgrims in the three regions of the North. The Hajj board is expected to airlift 6500 pilgrims according to the head of medicals at Hajj board and the final number will determined the number on the payment by pilgrims.
So far 400 would-be pilgrims were screen in upper east region, 3000 in northern region and 2000 in Greater Accra region. Ashanti region is expected to commence on Saturday July 15 2017.
Report by Alhaji Tanko Mohammed Rabiu
