Abuja — The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has moblised 450 medical personnel as part of its medical team during this year's hajj to Saudi Arabia.

This was made known yesterday by the Head of the Commission's Medical Team, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, during a hajj medical seminar in Abuja.

Dr Kana, who representated the Chairman of the Medical Committee for 2008 Hajj, Prof Abdusalami Nasidi, said that the moblised personnel comprised of the various aspects of the medical profession.

He noted that the medical team has medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health workers and other sub-sectors within the health services to render necessary service to the Nigerian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

The head of the medical team also said that in addition to the personnel, the commission had equally moblised resources such as; drugs and other necessary needed to render service to the large Nigerian pilgrims.

"In addition to the personnel, the hajj commission has also acquired all necessary resource that is needed for the health of the pilgrims" he noted.

Dr Kana further said that for the first time, the country's pilgrims were vaccinated against most of the diseases that were usual common with the pilgrims from Nigeria, before their departure. This he said was with the view to avoiding experiences of the past.

Similarly, he noted that already, the team had some medical officials in Saudi Arabia, ahead of the arrival of the pilgrims, and that the team was already setting up clinics where the personnel would be deployed to provide medic al services to the pilgrims.

He added that the team had also carried out medical examination of would be pilgrims and identified those who were not fit to embark on the intense hajj exercise, while those with some special medical needs were cleared to embark on the journey, but with special attention paid to them.

Also speaking at the seminar, the Commissioner of Planning, Research and Library Services, NAHCON, Dr Sheikh Saleh Okenwa, advised the medical officials to see their assignment as a favour from God, as such should be grateful to him by rendering quality service to pilgrims, for chosen them among several qualify medical personnel.

Dr Okenwa, who representated theNAHCON, chairman, noted that only such quality service to the pilgrims that would be proper gratitude to their creator who bestowed on them such favours.

He then charged them to do everything possible to ensure that the pilgrims are well taken care of medically, because that remains the essence of their assignment in Saudi Arabia.

The 140 strong medical team, which has no less than 45 Doctors, will be complimented by some medical officials in the various state contingents for the hajj.