Hajj: Saudi donates malaria test kits to Nigeria

Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, has donated 300 units of malaria test kits to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON in Makkah with a view to boosting the healthcare services of Nigerian pilgrims currently on holy pilgrimage.

Representatives of the ministry, Dr. Yahya and Dr. Bandar, made the donation on behalf of Saudi Arabia during their courtesy visit to the NAHCON’s main clinic on Monday at Misfala Kudai, Al-Musafireen Hotel, Makkah.

Head of Nigeria’s Medical Mission for 2024 Hajj season, Dr. Abubakar A. Isma’eel, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Hajia Fatima Sanda Usara received the donation on behalf of the commission’s chairman, Malam Jalal Arabi.

The statement explained that the visit followed recognition of NAHCON clinics as highly responsible and professional.

“This confidence reposed in the commission’s primary healthcare system was created by responsible synergy between NAHCON’s health workforce and those of the Saudi MoH via a two-way communication/action strategy.

“If NAHCON clinics refer serious cases to any of the Saudi hospitals, they stabilize the patients, then return them to NAHCON clinics for continued clinical observation.

“This reduces the bed occupancy at Saudi hospitals.

“Sharing of original malaria test kits with NAHCON clinics to facilitate early diagnosis for prompt treatment indicates the level of earned confidence of the Kingdom’s Health Ministry by the NAHCON health facilities,” Usara stressed.

It would be recalled that the Saudi Arabia government had on June 2 approved two main clinics for NAHCON at Masfala/Kudai and Shari’e Al-Mansour areas for the healthcare services of pilgrims in Makkah for the meantime.

In another development, the statement informed that the NAHCON’s Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, PPMF, Prince Aliu AbdulRazak witnessed the 2024 Hajj airlift from the South-South region on Tuesday.

The Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara bade the state contingents farewell at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Governor Fubara, who supported each of the pilgrim with a cash donation of US$300 to alleviate the foreign exchange shortfall from their Basic Travel Allowance, BTA, admonished them to be law abiding and to pray for the state as well as for Nigeria.

The statement quoted the NAHCON chairman, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi to have expressed satisfaction with the malaria test kits and the governor’s gesture to the pilgrims.