Several Hajj pilgrims from Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) became\ndisoriented while in Saudi Arabia. It is suspected that they experienced\na recurrence of dementia, with their condition worsened by Saudi\nArabia\u2019s weather factors. Some pilgrims even refused to return to their\naccommodation and only wanted to keep walking. Among them, some ended up\nlost in a cemetery.<\/p>\n
The Head of Work Team IV at the Class I Mataram Health Quarantine\nCentre (BKK), Ferry Wardhana, confirmed the news. A video of the\ndisoriented pilgrims in Saudi Arabia was received from Hajj officials\nthere.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s indeed hot and dusty there, and many pilgrims from Bima who\nhave departed have become disoriented. I\u2019ve already seen the video,\u201d\nsaid Ferry at the Lombok Hajj Embarkation Dormitory in Mataram on Friday\n(1\/5\/2026).<\/p>\n
Ferry stated that the disoriented pilgrims were suspected to be\nfatigued. They are still being searched for by Hajj officials in Saudi\nArabia. \u201cWe don\u2019t know where they are now. This might be due to\nsenility. Some even went to the cemetery there, and some don\u2019t want to\nreturn to the accommodation, they just want to keep walking,\u201d Ferry\nrecounted.<\/p>\n
Before departing for the Holy Land, Ferry explained, these\ndisoriented pilgrims had met the istithaah (Hajj requirements) during\nchecks at the Lombok Hajj Embarkation Dormitory, including improved\nhealth conditions. It is strongly suspected that they experienced acute\ndementia due to fatigue upon arriving in the Holy Land.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir condition here (in Indonesia) was stable; dementia wasn\u2019t\napparent here. Their status didn\u2019t indicate dementia. But it\u2019s\nuncontrolled. Yes, so there, due to fatigue, they walked to the\ncemetery, dehydration, and then encountered crowds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The weather in Saudi Arabia, Ferry added, can also worsen the\npilgrims\u2019 conditions. This can trigger dementia symptoms in elderly\npilgrims. \u201cAre they stable now? I don\u2019t know about this one yet.\nDementia can be managed. What can\u2019t be cured are the acute symptoms,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Of the 2,722 NTB pilgrims who arrived in Madinah and Makkah, Ferry\nexplained, they generally faced hot weather challenges. Even some\npilgrims experienced a decrease in appetite because the food in Saudi\nArabia differs from that in the homeland.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnvironmental challenges of heat and dust. Then adaptation issues\nbecause it\u2019s a new place, so many get disoriented, and also food\nchallenges because it\u2019s different there. The food doesn\u2019t taste good\nthere. Here it\u2019s spicy. That makes them lose appetite,\u201d Ferry\nemphasised.<\/p>\n
The Head of the NTB Provincial Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Office,\nLalu Muhammad Amin, explained that based on reports from officials in\nthe Holy Land, the current temperature in Saudi Arabia exceeds 40\ndegrees Celsius. \u201cMost of our pilgrims are in good health and continue\nperforming their worship in the Holy Land. But naturally, in each group,\nsome experience health declines due to fatigue,\u201d said Amin.<\/p>\n
The flight from Lombok to the Holy Land takes nearly 20 hours. This\nrequires stable energy and physical condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, we also advise all our departing Hajj pilgrims to truly\nmaintain their stamina, health, and physical fitness. Don\u2019t let their\nhealth decline, don\u2019t get too tired or fatigued, so that their journey\ngoes smoothly without obstacles,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Amin assured that all NTB Hajj pilgrims are staying in hotels near\nthe Masjidil Haram. This will facilitate the mobilisation of pilgrims\nheading to Makkah.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot too far, especially since all our pilgrims will be placed in one\nhotel called Luqluah. That hotel is very close to the Jamaroh, and also\nnot too far from the Masjidil Haram,\u201d he emphasised.<\/p>\n
Amin also assured that the hotel side has prepared mobilisation for\nthe pilgrims from departure from the hotel to the Masjidil Haram for 24\nhours. In addition, the Ministry of Hajj has a Hajj and Umrah Store\nservice to meet the needs of all pilgrims.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike souvenirs and such. So, they don\u2019t need to bring heavy items\nfrom there. Through one application, they can fulfil the pilgrims\u2019\nneeds, especially for souvenirs when returning to the homeland,\u201d Amin\nemphasised.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/suspected-dementia-causes-hajj-pilgrims-from-ntb-to-get-lost-in-saudi-arabias-cemetery-1777632853", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }