By Lateef Odegbenle
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Hamzat have sponsored the compulsory medical screening for the State’s intending pilgrims embarking on holy pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The gesture is in fulfilment of the Governor’s directive that every pilgrim going for the spiritual and tedious exercise from the State must be certified medically fit.
Speaking during the flag off of the medical exercise in Badagry Local Government Secretariat, Ajarah, the Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Amir-ul- Hajj, Hon. Ibrahim Layode, said Lagos State placed premium on the wellbeing of the pilgrims, stressing that the decision to bankroll the screening was to relieve them of the financial burden after paying the huge Hajj fare of N8,784, 085.59k despite the present harsh economic situation in the country.
He said, “Mr. Governor and his deputy felt deeply concerned about the economic hardship in the country and decided to foot the bill of the screening to alleviate the intending pilgrims of the cost of the screening which was N50,000.00 last year. And 10 ‘designated screening sites and health facilities for testing’ have been created across the state due to the seriousness the present administration attached to the issue.”
He said that results which would be released after the blood and unrine samples have been collected would confirm their true health status and help to know how best to manage them during their stay in the Holy land.
The intending pilgrims undergo screen such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and C, Tuberculosis (TB), Urinalysis, Pregnancy test for women, Full Blood Count (FBC) and Electrolyte and Urea + Creatinine (E & U + Cr) to assess kidney functions.
The coordinator of the medical screening exercise, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho said that others new tests such as TB, E, U + Cr etc. were added with a view to giving the intending pilgrims the benefits of knowing their health status and ensuring that they are medically sound before embarking on the spiritual journey as directed by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
On his part, the Board Secretary, Mr. AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin urged all the intending pilgrims to take advantage of the free medical screening exercise by participating fully, saying this kind of opportunity provided by the Governor and his deputy was unprecedented.
No fewer than 1,400 intending pilgrims would perform the year 2025 Hajj rites from Lagos.State.
