By Ibrahim Mohammed
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has conducted the first batch of screening and orientation of potential medical team members for the 2023 Hajj.
Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Fatima Sanda Usara, in a statement issued, said the exercise took place on 27th April 2023 with about 212 applicants invited for the verification.
She said the principal officers led by Dr. Usman Galadima of the Federal Ministry of Health, who is also the Chief of Medical Operations of the National Medical Team (NMT), screened documents of the successful Doctors, Pharmacists, and Nurses that would form the NMT.
In a speech at the inauguration and orientation program, the NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, congratulated successful members for scaling the selection out of over 10,000 applicants, where only 230 members were required.
He enjoined them to consider their selection as a trust reposed on them by the Almighty, whose favor they are beneficiaries of.
The Chairman also cautioned the members to respect the guidelines and regulations of the host country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which does not tolerate infractions.
In a remark, Commissioner Planning, Research, Information, Statistics and Library Services (PRISLS), Prince Sheikh Suleman Momoh, who doubles as Chairman of the Medical Team, disclosed that the selection of the members followed a transparent ballot system under the supervision of 12 members.
He, therefore, emphasized that any member who would not comply strictly with the terms and conditions of engagement was invited to honorably decline the offer.
Sheikh Momoh informed that once they signed the acceptance letter, they would be expected to work as stipulated. Sheikh Momoh explained that NAHCON considers the healthcare of pilgrims as cardinal in its operations.
Commenting, two Commissioners; Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa and Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai called on the members to show gratitude to Allah for their selection by discharging their responsibilities whether monitored or not.
Alhaji Yakassai added that their appointment letter clearly states their remuneration in consonance with the number of days they would be engaged.
The newly posted Board Member representing the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Ahmad Baba called on the medical personnel to always abide by their professional ethics wherever they are.
The Technical Adviser to the NMT also reminded the selected members of the role of the Federal Ministry of Health as a regulatory body monitoring their professional conduct.
The NMT composition is a fusion of medical personnel sponsored by States’ Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions and those sponsored by the federal agency to cater to the healthcare of pilgrims during Hajj operations on and offshore.