The Travel Doctor
Traveller's medical & vaccination centre
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Services for Pilgrims to the Hajj
The Travel Doctor-TMVC has many years of experience with assisting Australian pilgrims safely attend the Hajj. Each year, many Australian Muslims will wish to attend & participate in this religious event, one of the biggest in the world.
Some medical preparation for the Hajj is compulsory & required by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health. Certification of vaccination is required, & The Travel Doctor-TMVC can provide all the correct requirements.
Current Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia official requirements:
Planning
Some careful planning can make this pilgrimage much safer & more enjoyable for the participants. The Hajj is categorised by extremely large numbers of people, sometimes extreme heat, & in recent years, the Saudi authorities have made great improvements for the safety & comfort of pilgrims.
Health concerns can be considered as problems due to non-communicable cause, as well as some communicable diseases:
Non communicable:
• Many older people go to the Hajj, some of who have underlying heart or other chronic disease, which may or may not be recognised. Because the Hajj can be very stressful, heart-attacks are common, so stabilising any heart trouble before going is important..
• Stampede. There have been many deaths in recent years due to stampeding crowds, & the Government
of Saudi Arabia has made good progress in helping avoid this problem.
• Motor-vehicle accidents & fires have claimed lives too.
• Heat stress is very common, in some years the Hajj will fall in high summer, & dehydration & heat
exhaustion are common.
Communicable diseases of concern are
• Gastroenteritis
• Respiratory infections including influenza, whooping cough & TB
• Hepatitis A, B, C have all been spread at the Hajj.
• Meningococcal disease has occurred in the past in large outbreaks, & has been transferred to home
countries from returning travellers. This is why the vaccine against this disease is compulsory now.
Getting Prepared
• Pilgrims should consider going on the Hajj before they get too old, & get medical conditions that make
the travel more difficult, or have difficulty with mobility.
• It helps to be fit, & it may be wise to do some training, like regular walking, before going.
• Have a medical & dental check-up before going, & ensure that any pre-existing medical conditions are
optimally controlled. The Travel Doctor-TMVC can help provide appropriate assessment & referral.
• Photocopy all documents, health records & carry extra copy, & keep a copy at home.
• Take out travel insurance
• Take a warm blanket, as the air-conditioned tents are often cold.
• Ensure you have comfortable footwear, there is a lot of walking to do. If blisters are possible, take
suitable dressings.
• Take first-aid supplies, including footcare, sunblock, repellent.
• Prevent menstruation
• Get a Travel Doctor-TMVC Medical kit for managing gastro symptoms
Vaccinations
Compulsory: Meningococcal
Recommended: The Travel Doctor-TMVC suggests travellers to be in date with
• tetanus/diphtheria/whooping cough,
• polio,
• hepatitis A,
• influenza
• others may be necessary depending on age or medical conditions
To make the stay more comfortable, the following tips should be considered.
• Avoid very crowded times/areas. Seek out shady places
• Drink plenty of fluids, consider taking oral rehydration solution (ORS)
• Wear sunscreen (unfragranced), & consider a white sun-umbrella
• Consider wearing a face mask.
• Wash hands frequently/alcohol hand wash
• Put footwear in bag while praying
• Have any animal slaughter done by professionals
• Only use licenced barber
• Seek medical help early if you are unwell
Seek medical help early, consult your nearest Travel Doctor-TMVC if you have any concerns
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Learn about the medical requirements for your destination by checking out the Destination fact sheets
Other useful information can be found in the Travel health fact sheets
Work out your vaccine requirements by looking at the My Travel Health Planner
