A medical expert, Ibrahim Abubakar, has advised Nigerian pilgrims observing the 2026 hajj in Saudi Arabia to consider their health status before embarking on rigorous spiritual exercise during the pilgrimage.

Mr Abubakar, the head of medical mission for the 2026 hajj operation, gave the advice in an interview on Friday in Mecca.

According to him, the medical team is sensitising the pilgrims to always consider a lot of factors before embarking on outdoor spiritual activities.

“The temperature is number one. We have to look at the weather conditions. The heat is severe right now, and this requires to increasingly stay indoors,” he said.

Mr Abubakar said that the medical mission had recorded the death of four Nigerian pilgrims, mainly due to stress-related conditions.

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“The first case we had was not even within Makkah and Madinah. We were told right from Jedah. She was first seen at the Saudi German hospital, we were told that it was a case of cardiac arrest or heart attack.

“The second one was from Nasarawa state. It was the same heart problem, and we suspected myocardial infarction; that is, a heart attack too,” he said.

The medical doctor said that the third death was caused by an umbilical hernia.

“The fourth was a very obese patient, that is somebody who is fat, and with a history of chest pain. So, it again points towards a heart attack,” he said.

He said that Nigeria had a total of 287 medical personnel in Saudi Arabia for the 2026 hajj.

He said they comprise of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, public health physicians, general physicians, endocrinologists, and orthopaedic surgeons.

He said that the medical personnel were mainly required to provide primary care while referral of complicated cases are made to eight designated hospitals within Saudi Arabia.

Fatima Sadiq, a consultant physician and the head of the clinic for the Nigerian medical mission, said that the team was doing its best to provide the required care for the pilgrims.

Ms Sadiq commended the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other experts for their teamwork.

(NAN)