Dr. Munirah Ba-Rajaa, a Family and Society Medicine consultant, emphasized that every pilgrim should be taking the necessary vaccinations, as well as the preventive medications of both chronic and casual diseases, two weeks prior to setting out for Hajj. Diabetic and cardiac patients, for example, are supposed to be carrying a sufficient quantity of their medicines. It is important, also, to store such medicines properly, and to see a doctor before embarking on the Hajj trip, in order that the pilgrim can ensure whether he will be capable of performing the Hajj rites.
In an interview with her in the Media Information and Health Awareness Center, and as part of the service dubbed (Pilgrim's health is our concern), launched by the Ministry of Health for the 7th consecutive year through the toll-free number: 8002494444, Dr. Ba-Rajaa said that people suffering from obesity have to take some measures and precautions. She pointed out that obesity, itself, is a modern problem (statistics for it did not even exist 50 years ago), and an obese pilgrim, hence, cannot be deprived of the blessing of Hajj. However, he has to make every effort to improve his fitness before Hajj, since, in case his body is not accustomed to much motion, the quite big effort required to perform the Hajj rites might be harmful for him. Besides, he is, when exposed to the sun, more susceptible to abrasion and other skin diseases, due to the friction of skin. So, it is advisable for him to use skin moisturizers.
Moreover, Dr. Munirah underscored the pilgrim's need of psychological preparation before the performance of Hajj. This could be done by providing him with information on Hajj and how to perform it safely and soundly, inasmuch as many pilgrims are shocked by a reality quite different from their imaginations and presuppositions. Pilgrims, hence, should resort to religious scholars or those who had formerly experienced the performance of Hajj, in order to gain experience and good knowledge.
Ba-Rajaa went on to say, “Whenever the pilgrim suffers from intestinal catarrh (usually taking the form of diarrhea sometimes accompanied by vomiting), he has to drink much liquids (whether water or juice) to compensate the fluids lost. Also, he should keep away, as far as possible, from direct sunlight to evade perspiration which might lead to dehydration.”
To conclude, Ba-Rajaa said, “There should be a regular diet prescribed for each pilgrim separately, since it basically depends upon the varying natures of human bodies. When talking to an ordinary person, who does not suffer from any health problems, for example, we would advise to him to pursue his ordinary diet. A cardiac patient, on the other hand, will need to reduce using salt and fat. Whereas a diabetic patient should maintain the diabetes diet; and so should patients with blood pressure disorders. Kidney patients should have as much liquids and as little salt as possible. Following such simple tips will enable pilgrims to be fit for the performance of Hajj rites.”