MAKKAH: Malaysian pilgrims often pay their entire attention to the spiritual aspect of the haj but neglect physical preparations which is equally important.
Deputy head (medical) of the 1439H Malaysian haj season Dr Mohd Shaffari Marzuki pointed out that the physical challenges of the haj was daunting and pilgrims needed to prepare in Malaysia long before they leave for the Holy Land.
"Pilgrims are high spirited and full of enthusiasm but these are not sufficient to help them in fulfilling their obligations.
"The haj rituals involve a lot of walking under the hot sun and need resilience. So while in Malaysia, pilgrims must walk at least half an hour a day, eat nutritiously and rid themselves of bad habits such as smoking.
"Pilgrims don't pay enough attention to this even though it is stressed in all haj courses before their departure. Those above 60 as well as those with chronic illnesses should take extra care," he told Malaysian reporters at Tabung Haji's Syisyah Medical Centre here.
He said pilgrims should also get their teeth checked before departing Malaysia as one of the common issues they face here was toothache, something which could severely impact their focus on religious obligations.
There are three TH medical centres in the Holy Land - Syisyah Dar Al-Mubarak, which is the biggest, the clinic at Abraj Al-Janadriyah, and Dar Al-Jiffry in Madinah.
There are a total of 266 Malaysian medical personnel from various disciplines in the Holy Land during the haj season.
Of the 266, 18 are specialists while the rest are medical officers, paramedics, nurses and support staff.
Dr Shaffari said the majority of pilgrims seeking outpatient treatment did so for coughs and flu, joint and knee pain due to the long walks, and skin problems from the intense heat.
"Most of our outpatients are those 60 years and above.
"Our inpatients are mostly for pneumonia and heart problems. These are also the main causes of deaths in the Holy Land."
Dr Shaffari said TH also provided medical services at the airport terminals in Jeddah and Madinah when Malaysian haj pilgrims arrive, and at the mandatory checkpoint for buses between Madinah and here.
"Our doctors also visit Saudi hospitals to monitor Malaysian haj pilgrims who have been referred and admitted there."
He said TH also provided Safari Wukuf services for sick pilgrims, where they are taken to Arafah in ambulances to pray and make supplications on the auspicious day, and then returned to the hospital.
"We will use seven buses which have been converted into ambulances for this purpose," he said.
Before Safari Wukuf was introduced in 2016, patients often could not withstand being moved from the hospital to Arafah during 9 Zulhijjah (expected to be on Aug 20).
"So we decided to place them in converted buses to Arafah instead. This way they remain stabilised and we have managed to cut down the rate of deaths during wukuf."
Wukuf is an obligatory ritual of haj. Failure to be present at Arafah on 9 Zulhijjah, even if they had performed other rituals, would invalidate their haj.