Elderly pilgrims told to pray for good health
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.