SARAJEVO, MAY 26 (ONASA) – The first plane with Bosnian-Herzegovinian pilgrims from the airport in Sarajevo should take off on June 6, 2024.
Among the 152 passengers on the first plane will be members of the medical team led this year by M.Sc. sci. med. Adem Zalihić, emergency medicine specialist.
“The Office for Hajj and Umrah of the Islamic Community pays special attention to the health care of pilgrims, so with this goal in mind, a special rulebook was adopted, according to which the leader of the medical team travels on the first plane and immediately upon arrival, this year in Mecca, installs an infirmary in the hotel. “Illness does not choose place or time, you have people who get seriously ill even during the flight,” said Dr. Stock.
In an interview with the MINA Agency, he pointed out the things that future pilgrims should adhere to, all with the aim of preserving their health as well as possible, and thus making it easier to perform the Hajj rites.
“Last year, out of 2,000 pilgrims, more than 40 percent of them were over 65 years old. By all parameters, this is an old population, it is normal for them to carry certain diseases with them. Based on many years of experience, we have absolved and organized many things in such a way as to minimize surprises,” says Zalihić.
With the aim of preventing certain situations, during the education organized by the Office for Hajj and Umrah, a leaflet was already delivered in electronic and printed form with recommendations that they should adhere to before going on a trip, during the trip and staying in the holy places, but also after the trip .
“It is very important for elderly people to have an internal examination with their doctor before the trip, have blood and urine tests done, and check the condition of the lungs, heart and kidneys. It is also important to avoid insomnia, because this can also affect the state of health. For this time, many people buy new things, including slippers, which then cause blisters. You should take care of that, better to bring some that have already been used,” Zalihić said.
He also recommended constant hand and food hygiene as very important, as well as the intake of enough fluids to avoid dehydration.
“Upon arrival in Mecca, you should be prepared for high temperatures, which is why hydration of the body is very important, as well as hygiene. Given that we are entering a situation of overcrowding where we have pilgrims from various parts of the world, some common pathogenic bacteria and viruses can cause certain health problems for us. Due to sneezing and coughing, wearing a mask in crowds is a good thing and I recommend it to people who have respiratory and cardiovascular problems. We must also pay attention to food hygiene, not to consume certain things that can cause constipation in the elderly. So, you need to drink enough fluids, of course, not carbonated, eat a lot of soups, take in enough magnesium, calcium, zinc, vitamin C to allow the body to retain fluid,” explains Zalihić.
He also referred to this year’s decision for pilgrims to stay first in Mecca and then in Medina, saying that it is good for several reasons.
“As a medical team, we supported this decision, because in Mecca the believers need the greatest efforts in order to perform the Hajj ritual, while they are strong and rested. The previous method was to go to Medina, where people get tired, but we will see how this will turn out in practice,” Zalihić said.
Considering the many years of accompanying the pilgrims on this blessed, but also demanding journey, Zalihić once again pointed to the good organization and care taken for the health of the pilgrims.
“What the Office for Hajj and Umrah and the medical sector is doing is at a very good level, especially when we compare it to other countries with big names, whose pilgrims come to our clinics and seek medical help. During their stay in Muzdelifah, Arefat, Mina, medical teams walk alongside our pilgrims with equipment and medicines. I don’t know that I have seen such a situation anywhere else. The Hajj and Umrah Office shows that it takes serious care of the medical care of the Hajj pilgrims because we do not abandon the Hajj pilgrims at any moment, regardless of whether we are in the field or stationed in hotels in Mecca or Medina. Until the last moment, you have to be collected, composed and operational – adds Zalihić.
He also praised the cooperation with the Saudi authorities, who pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina brings the least number of patients to hospitals for hospital treatment.
“So, patients who can be taken care of, we take care of them. We send only those who need hospital treatment due to laboratory and other diagnostic procedures to hospitals. We carry a lot of our medicines, borrow special medical bags, buy things that require a little more space downstairs, such as infusion solutions. But we never lacked anything,” Zalihić said.
This year, the medical team consists of 14 people, of which seven doctors are specialists in various specialties and seven experienced nurses, i.e. technicians, who will take care of 2,225 pilgrims from our country.
“Listen to your guides, listen to the instructions of the management of the Office for Hajj and Umrah and follow the recommendations of the medical team and I believe that we will perform this ritual with ease. In any case, it is important to say that we will be available to the pilgrims with our knowledge and experience at any time and in any place,” Dr. Stock. (end)