Elderly pilgrims told to pray for good health

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Nearly 35 percent of Indonesian haj pilgrims are elderly people who suffer various health conditions and face a high risk of death while performing prayers in Saudi Arabia, a health official says.

Health ministry official Rimarky Oemar advised such elderly pilgrims to reduce their outdoor activities, as the weather in Saudi Arabia could have adverse impacts on their health.

"The pilgrims can practice religious services, but they must not ignore their conditions," Rimarky said on Saturday on the official pilgrimage website, www.informasihaji.com.

Diseases included cardiovascular ailments, asthma, diabetes, heart disorders, hypertension and rheumatism.

Rimarky said 22 Indonesian pilgrims were currently being treated at a health clinic in Saudi Arabia.

He suggested that Indonesian haj pilgrims, particularly the elderly, maintain their health by performing their religious services properly.

They should not stay at the mosque the whole day, but should only go at prayer time and return to their domicile immediately afterward, he added.

"Their health may worsen if they keep on praying ... all day long. Their fatigue and the low temperature can aggravate their health," Rimarky said.

During last year's haj season, at least 516 Indonesian pilgrims did in Mecca, including 57 killed on Feb. 1, 2004, in a stampede in Mina.

Antara reported that as of Saturday, 14 Indonesian haj pilgrims had died.

The latest fatality was Maryam binti Paiman, 73, who died on Sunday of pneumonia. Maryam was rushed to the hospital on Saturday suffering from dehydration, but medical staff discovered she had acute diabetes.

Aminuddin bin Kianum, 59, who lives at Jl. Beringin Raya No. 16 A, RT 3, Bengkulu, died on Saturday at a hospital.

Aminuddin was taken to a health clinic in Mecca on Thursday after he fell out of a bus. A checkup diagnosed Aminuddin with diabetes and a liver problem, and he was transferred on Friday to Malik Faisal Hospital, but he died at midnight.

Earlier on Friday, pilgrim Abdul Hakim bin Saiman from Kemanggisan, Palmerah, West Jakarta, died in his apartment in Mecca. The cause of death was not reported.

Rimarky called on all Indonesian pilgrims to conserve their energy for the peak of the haj rituals, expected to fall on Jan. 20, or Dzulhijah 9 according to the Islamic calender.

Pilgrims typically face serious health problems during the peak of religious services during the haj, when the number of deaths also increases.

Rimarky said that a week before flying to Saudi Arabia, pilgrims generally suffered sleep deficiency, as they were obligated to greet relatives and others before departing.

"This could worsen their health, combined with fatigue from a nine-hour flight from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia," he added.