Physiotherapists Join Ziarah Rahmah To Promote Fitness Among Haj Pilgrims

MAKKAH, May 21 (Bernama) -- In a continuous effort to provide the best healthcare services to haj pilgrims, this year’s Ziarah Rahmah Programme includes physiotherapists who will share tips and advice on staying fit during the pilgrimage.

Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) coordinator of operations (Public Health Unit) Dr Asraf Ahmad Qamruddin said every pilgrim should do simple exercises daily to prevent ailments such as muscle and joint pain.

“Haj pilgrims typically have to travel longer distances compared to their routine in Malaysia. Therefore, physiotherapy officers will share simple exercises that the pilgrims can do.

“We will show these exercises, especially for pilgrims experiencing joint and muscle problems. The physiotherapy unit usually joins the Ziarah Rahmah Programme when they have free time, as they also have to manage their clinic here,” he told reporters after conducting the Ziarah Rahmah at the Abraj Al Janadriyah Hotel yesterday.

The Ziarah Rahmah Programme, introduced several years ago, involves room-to-room visits to check on the health conditions of haj pilgrims, helping to detect health issues early and prevent them from becoming more serious. Malaysia is the only country that undertakes such an initiative.

Dr Asraf said the team has already visited 500 rooms with 800 pilgrims, during which they also provided health education to ensure the pilgrims remain healthy during wukuf in Arafah, which is the climax of the haj pilgrimage.

“We will brief the pilgrims on weather conditions, how to stay hydrated and ways to avoid heat exhaustion and respiratory infection.

“Generally speaking, staying hydrated is the pilgrims’ biggest problem. Even after being reminded, some people are still unsure of how much water they should be drinking and some are scared of drinking too much because they would need to frequent the restroom,” he said.

According to Dr Asraf, issues such as joint and muscle pain from walking to the mosque, peeling skin on the feet and problems related to the medication brought from home were frequently raised by the pilgrims.

For pilgrims with symptoms or health issues, health personnel participating in the Ziarah Rahmah Programme will advise them to seek immediate treatment at the clinic in their maktab (hostel).

-- BERNAMA