The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has said the compulsory medical screening/inoculation programme for intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj had begun in the state.

The Executive Secretary, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (MPWB), Alhaji Salau Dauda, stated this during the first day of the two-day exercise, at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, describing the exercise as an annual routine to ascertain the health status of prospective pilgrims before embarking on pilgrimage to Mecca and Medinah.

Alhaji Dauda, in a statement made by the Board’s Press Officer, Mrs. Lateefah Fatai, maintained that the screening demonstrated government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of the intending pilgrims while performing Hajj rites, enjoining them to cooperate with the medical team to achieve meaningful results.

The MPWB boss charged the intending Pilgrims to be of good behaviour and shun acts that could bring the state and the country at large to disrepute while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Speaking, the Head of the medical team, Dr. Rabiu Kusimo, counseled the intending pilgrims to take along with them their prescribed medications, in line with new guidelines, advising them to avoid spending too much time in the sun and drink enough water to prevent dehydration.

In their separate remarks, two of the intending pilgrims, Mrs. Arala Adefunke and Mr. Ayangbola Kazeem, said the screening was for the benefit of the intending pilgrims, to prevent them from contracting any disease during the Hajj.