Seven pilgrim deaths in Holy Land

MAKKAH: A total of 104 Malaysian pilgrims are hospitalised here for various ailments, while seven have died.

Of the 104 in hospital, 94 are in Tabung Haji medical centres here while the rest are warded in Saudi Arabia hospitals.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, in expressing condolences, said family members of pilgrims who died had been informed.

“They succumbed to, among others, chest infections, heart problems and, in one case, cancer,” he told Malaysian media at TH headquarters Abraj Al-Janadriyah. There are two TH medical centres here — Syisyah Dar Al-Mubarak, which is the biggest, and a clinic at Abraj Al-Janadriyah.

He said the rate of hospitalisation and deaths was lower compared with the corresponding period in previous years, but cautioned all parties not to be complacent.

“We have more public health specialists going from room to room this year, who are tasked with identifying pilgrims with health issues. This is the first line of defence.”

He said pilgrims should take care as the weather was very hot, adding that they needed to seek early treatment so they would be well during the crucial Masyair period starting this Sunday.

Masyair refers to the massive movement of pilgrims from Makkah to Arafah for wukuf, then onwards to Muzdalifah, and Mina.

Mujahid said corporations could, as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, contribute towards upgrading the facilities and equipment at the medical centres in future.

“They could help secure more ambulances, for instance, which currently number 20.”