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No fewer than 54 Nigerian pilgrims have been admitted to hospital in Saudi Arabia during the ongoing Hajj 2026 exercise, while four deaths have been recorded, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has confirmed.
The head of the national medical team revealed this on Thursday while briefing journalists in Mecca on the health and welfare situation of Nigerian pilgrims taking part in the pilgrimage.
He said the commission currently operates five licensed medical clinics across Saudi Arabia to assist Nigerian pilgrims, including two in Medina and three in Mecca.
According to him, Madinah facilities are located at Madinah Hotel in Alsham and Buna Toiba in Markazia area, while Mecca clinics are located at Misfalah, Sharasittin and Niger House in Yabalash.
He explained that the medical operations began in Medina shortly after the arrival of the Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia on April 28, following approval and licensing from Saudi health authorities.
However, he noted that, unlike previous years, Saudi regulations did not allow the creation of medical outposts, limiting operations to full clinics only – an arrangement which he said increased pressure on available facilities.
The medical team revealed that over 24 patients had been referred to Saudi hospitals in Medina, while more than 30 others were transferred from clinics in Mecca for advanced care, particularly from the Misfalah facility, which welcomes pilgrims from around 19 states.
Seriously ill patients are referred to specialized Saudi hospitals, including King Abdulaziz Hospital, through emergency response services.
Regarding casualties, the commission confirmed that four Nigerian pilgrims, all women, died during the exercise.
It said the deaths were largely linked to cardiac complications, including suspected cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction, while another case involved complications from a strangulated hernia.
Officials attributed the incidents to a combination of underlying medical conditions, extreme weather conditions and physical stress associated with Hajj rituals.
They added that pilgrims have been repeatedly advised to minimize unnecessary movement in cold temperatures and to maintain adequate hydration to reduce health risks.
The commission said it deployed about 287 medical staff to cater to the Nigerian pilgrims, including about 80 doctors and specialists in various fields.
Furthermore, the director of the Misfalah clinic, Fatima Saddiq, described the facility’s workload as increasingly challenging due to the growing number of patients.
He said common cases treated include malaria, dehydration, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, catarrh, muscle pain, as well as injuries such as bruises and cuts suffered during movement and rituals.
According to her, six doctors are deployed per shift every day to manage the growing medical needs of pilgrims, amid growing health emergencies related to heat exposure and exhaustion.
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