Nigerian intending pilgrims with underlying illnesses and other medical conditions that make them to be on prescribed drugs have been urged to carry the ones that will last them for days before locating the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Clinics in Madina or Makkah.
The commission’s chairman, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, gave the advice on Freedom Radio, Kaduna Station, Hausa programme, Barka Da Warhaka.
He said the commission had reached an 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 medications.
He, however, advised that such pilgrims should have a doctor‘s prescription and the drugs properly packaged before they would be allowed passage at both Nigerian and Saudi airports.
Arabi said NAHCON 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.
He said the measure became necessary in view of the pathetic serious conditions and predicaments of some of the patients.