Bekasi Regency urges prospective Hajj pilgrims to maintain their health

Bekasi Regency (ANTARA) - The Bekasi Regency Government in West Java has reminded prospective Hajj pilgrims to maintain their physical health to face potential extreme weather while performing worship in the Holy Land. Acting Regent of Bekasi Asep Surya Atmaja conveyed this during the send-off of 445 prospective Hajj pilgrims from the area, grouped in the ninth flight cluster, at the Swatantra Wibawa Mukti building in the Bekasi Regency office complex. “The Hajj pilgrimage demands physical and mental endurance, especially with the hot weather in Saudi Arabia,” he said in Cikarang on Monday. He reminded all prospective pilgrims to be disciplined in maintaining health, from eating patterns and rest to readiness of personal medications. “This is not a tourist trip but a pilgrimage journey. Health must be maintained so that the entire series of worship runs optimally,” he stated. He asked the accompanying medical team to conduct intensive monitoring, particularly for prospective pilgrims with histories of illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes. Anticipatory steps like clustering pilgrims based on health conditions and routine check-ups are key to minimising risks. “Health officers must actively monitor. Routine checks are important to keep the pilgrims’ conditions stable,” he said. Prospective Hajj pilgrims are also urged to report any health disturbances immediately by utilising direct communication channels to officers as part of optimal services. Pilgrims are advised to maintain fluid intake to avoid dehydration and not to overexert themselves if experiencing a decline in physical condition. “Finally, I also advise that you, sir and madam, represent the region, so it is hoped that you can maintain good behaviour, unity, and the good name of the region,” he said. He also hopes that pilgrims from Bekasi Regency can perform their Hajj smoothly and return to the homeland safely, achieving the status of accepted Hajj. Head of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Office of Bekasi Regency Mulyono Hilman Hakim added that the 445 prospective Hajj pilgrims in the ninth cluster are being sent to the Indramayu Hajj Dormitory before being flown to Mecca via Kertajati Airport in Majalengka the next day. “They are part of the total 3,195 prospective Hajj pilgrims from Bekasi Regency, who are scheduled to depart in stages since Thursday (23/4) until mid-May,” he said. For the Hajj season 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE, Bekasi Regency is sending pilgrims in eight clusters consisting of seven full clusters and one combined cluster. Each cluster of pilgrims is accompanied by five Hajj officers tasked with supporting the smoothness of the worship. “In each cluster, there are five accompanying officers, three of whom are medical personnel. Prospective pilgrims can immediately convey complaints directly to the medical officers if they feel any health disturbances,” he said.