First deaths recorded on haj pilgrimage<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The first two deaths of Indonesian haj pilgrims
\nthis year have been reported. One was in Medinah, Saudi Arabia,
\nand the other on the flight to Jeddah.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Religious Affairs said the first was
\nidentified as 57-year-old Encah bin Taryah of Tasikmalaya in West
\nJava. He died in Nabawi Mosque in Medinah Sunday and his body was
\nburied in Baqi Cemetery in Medinah.<\/p>\n
The second was Sitti Hafsah binti La Nusu, 49, of Ujungpandang
\nin South Sulawesi. She died on the plane before it landed at King
\nAbdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. She was buried in
\nRawa Cemetery in Jeddah.<\/p>\n
Both died of heart failure, the ministry's public relations
\noffice said. The government launched its massive operation to
\nsend nearly 202,000 Indonesians on the haj pilgrimage on Friday.<\/p>\n
Last year, 664 of the nearly 200,000 Indonesian pilgrims died,
\nmostly of heart and lung diseases.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Religious Affairs, which coordinates the
\nmassive operation, said it was tightening the medical check-ups
\npilgrims had to go through before being allowed to depart.<\/p>\n
At Pondok Gede haj dormitory in East Jakarta, where all
\npilgrims leaving from Jakarta must spend one night before flying
\nto Saudi Arabia, one man and one woman were declared unfit to
\nundertake the journey.<\/p>\n
One of them, 35-year old Yayah binti Okomuhtar, was found to
\nhave leukemia, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
The news agency did not disclose the cause of death of the
\nman, identified as 38-year old Sunarto.<\/p>\n
Both Yayah and Sunarto were from West Java and were originally
\nscheduled to depart last Friday.<\/p>\n
Sudirman, an officer at the dormitory said the medical check-
\nup was for the pilgrims' own good.<\/p>\n
\"We know they all want to go on the pilgrimage, but we have to
\nmake sure that they're in good health.\"<\/p>\n
\"A pilgrimage is no jaunt. One has to be ready both physically
\nand mentally,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The government has also set up clinics for Indonesian pilgrims
\nin the holy land, should they need medical services.<\/p>\n
A 24-hour clinic has been opened at King Abdul Aziz airport.
\nIt is staffed by 18 medical personnel.<\/p>\n
\"The government has enough medicine and medical equipment to
\nmake sure that our pilgrims will be in good health,\" Praptono
\nZamzam, the head of the ministry's haj section said.<\/p>\n
One pilgrim requiring particular attention will be 88-year-old
\nPaku Alam VIII, currently governor of Yogyakarta, who is going on
\nthe pilgrimage for the first time.<\/p>\n
Paku Alam will be accompanied by a private doctor and nurse,
\none of his sons Wijoyokusumo was quoted recently as saying by
\nAntara. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/first-deaths-recorded-on-haj-pilgrimage-1447893297",
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