Swine flu: FG advises Muslim pilgrims

The Federal Government has advised intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj “to be careful and take preventive measures against swine flu so that they do not get infected”.

Health Minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, while speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja recently, expressed the government’s concern on the disease, but assured that the present administration would continue to improve the health care services.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health was working the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Embassy of Saudi Arabia to provide information about swine flu for the pilgrims to avoid infection.

“As we go into the Hajj season, we are worried about the large numbers as swine flu is transmitted very easily when people gather together.
“But if they do get infected, we are also working with the medical team, both at the state and federal, that will go with them so that they can be prepared to look after them if any of them falls sick.

“Beyond that, we are also going to wait to receive them because you can actually catch it and on your return, you then infect many more people. At the reception site, we give them adequate education and treatment”, Professor Osotimehin explained.
The Saudi Arabian authorities had recently reported to have demanded that all pilgrims must be immunized against the swine flu before being allowed to perform this year’s Hajj in their country.

But the minister, while reacting to the development, said vaccines for the disease were not yet available in Africa, appealing to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to give the continent first priority whenever they are made available.

On polio, Professor Osotimehin said the ministry was working with traditional rulers to rid Nigeria of the disease, pointing out that “we have seen a great difference in terms of the immunization of children in our communities”.

“We have been working with the Sultan of Sokoto who is extremely helpful; we have set up a committee of 17 to 19 Emirs in the North who are working with us as a task force to eliminate polio and to also establish primary health care centres”, the minister explained.