Elderly pilgrims told to pray for good health<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Nearly 35 percent of Indonesian haj pilgrims are elderly people
\nwho suffer various health conditions and face a high risk of
\ndeath while performing prayers in Saudi Arabia, a health official
\nsays.<\/p>\n
Health ministry official Rimarky Oemar advised such elderly
\npilgrims to reduce their outdoor activities, as the weather in
\nSaudi Arabia could have adverse impacts on their health.<\/p>\n
\"The pilgrims can practice religious services, but they must
\nnot ignore their conditions,\" Rimarky said on Saturday on the
\nofficial pilgrimage website, www.informasihaji.com.<\/p>\n
Diseases included cardiovascular ailments, asthma, diabetes,
\nheart disorders, hypertension and rheumatism.<\/p>\n
Rimarky said 22 Indonesian pilgrims were currently being
\ntreated at a health clinic in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
He suggested that Indonesian haj pilgrims, particularly the
\nelderly, maintain their health by performing their religious
\nservices properly.<\/p>\n
They should not stay at the mosque the whole day, but should
\nonly go at prayer time and return to their domicile immediately
\nafterward, he added.<\/p>\n
\"Their health may worsen if they keep on praying ... all day
\nlong. Their fatigue and the low temperature can aggravate their
\nhealth,\" Rimarky said.<\/p>\n
During last year's haj season, at least 516 Indonesian
\npilgrims did in Mecca, including 57 killed on Feb. 1, 2004, in a
\nstampede in Mina.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that as of Saturday, 14 Indonesian haj
\npilgrims had died.<\/p>\n
The latest fatality was Maryam binti Paiman, 73, who died on
\nSunday of pneumonia. Maryam was rushed to the hospital on
\nSaturday suffering from dehydration, but medical staff discovered
\nshe had acute diabetes.<\/p>\n
Aminuddin bin Kianum, 59, who lives at Jl. Beringin Raya No.
\n16 A, RT 3, Bengkulu, died on Saturday at a hospital.<\/p>\n
Aminuddin was taken to a health clinic in Mecca on Thursday
\nafter he fell out of a bus. A checkup diagnosed Aminuddin with
\ndiabetes and a liver problem, and he was transferred on Friday to
\nMalik Faisal Hospital, but he died at midnight.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, pilgrim Abdul Hakim bin Saiman from
\nKemanggisan, Palmerah, West Jakarta, died in his apartment in
\nMecca. The cause of death was not reported.<\/p>\n
Rimarky called on all Indonesian pilgrims to conserve their
\nenergy for the peak of the haj rituals, expected to fall on Jan.
\n20, or Dzulhijah 9 according to the Islamic calender.<\/p>\n
Pilgrims typically face serious health problems during the
\npeak of religious services during the haj, when the number of
\ndeaths also increases.<\/p>\n
Rimarky said that a week before flying to Saudi Arabia,
\npilgrims generally suffered sleep deficiency, as they were
\nobligated to greet relatives and others before departing.<\/p>\n
\"This could worsen their health, combined with fatigue from a
\nnine-hour flight from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia,\" he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/elderly-pilgrims-told-to-pray-for-good-health-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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