Mecca (ANTARA) - Saudi authorities are expanding the scope of\ninsurance protection for prospective Hajj pilgrims during the peak Hajj\nrituals in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna), now including\ncoverage for illnesses caused by extreme hot weather.<\/p>\n
Head of the Health Section for the Mecca Working Area of the Saudi\nHajj Organising Officers (PPIH) Edi Supriyatna in Mecca on Thursday\nexplained that the changes to the health insurance clause have been\ncommunicated by local authorities to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah\n(Kemenhaj).<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecifically from 8 to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah, or during the peak Hajj\nperiod, Hajj pilgrims can use insurance if they experience heat cramps,\nheat exhaustion, and heat stroke,\u201d said Edi.<\/p>\n
The three categories of health disorders included in the new clause\nare heat cramps, or painful muscle cramps due to loss of fluids and\nelectrolytes. Then heat exhaustion, characterised by extreme fatigue,\nnausea, and rapid heartbeat due to dehydration in high temperatures.<\/p>\n
In response to the weather challenges in the Holy Land, PPIH urges\npilgrims to prepare themselves and maintain hydration patterns. Pilgrims\nare advised to drink at least 200 millilitres of water every hour\nslowly, namely four sips every 10 minutes, to prevent dehydration as\nwell as excessive toilet frequency.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrinking is mandatory. In addition, pilgrims need to prepare\nsupportive tools such as fans, water sprays, or cloths that can be\nwetted to alleviate the heat,\u201d said Edi.<\/p>\n
With the expansion of insurance protection and pilgrims\u2019 physical\nreadiness, the risk of fatalities due to extreme weather during the peak\nHajj procession in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina is expected to be\nminimised.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the government is providing the Indonesian Hajj Health\nClinic (KKHI) for the Mecca Working Area (Daker) during the 2026 Hajj\nseason, featuring a new service system conceptualised as an Urgent Care\nCentre (UCC) operating 24 hours a day.<\/p>\n
He explained that in the implementation of the UCC service, patient\nhandling is strictly divided based on the level of emergency. Patients\nwith severe cases (level 1\u20132) will be directly referred to Saudi\ngovernment hospitals, moderate cases (level 3) handled at KKHI\nfacilities, while minor cases (level 4\u20135) managed by cluster teams at\nsatellite health posts.<\/p>\n
To support the smooth operation of the 24-hour service, 122 health\npersonnel have been prepared. This number consists of 54 officers at\nKKHI Mecca and 68 officers distributed across 10 sectors. KKHI is also\nequipped with supporting facilities such as radiology and laboratory,\nwhich are not available at the sector health post level.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prospective-hajj-pilgrims-receive-additional-protection-against-heat-risks-during-armuzna-1777531938", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }