HUNDREDS JABBED UP FOR HAJJ 2009
NORTHWEST HEALTH & SAFETY AT HAJJ SEMINAR 2009
United Kingdom, Monday 12th October, 2009
Hundreds of would be Hajjis (Pilgrims) turned up to the country’s first Health & Safety at Hajj
Seminar and Hajj clinic hosted by the Council of British Hajjis (the CBH) over the weekend. The CBH
represents British pilgrims and hajj and Umrah service providers. In the four years it’s been
operational it has been acknowledged in the houses of parliament for its work nationally in creating
awareness and being the voice for British pilgrims.
CBH Executive Member, and members from the Lancashire Constabulary
In a joint effort by the Council of British Hajjis, NHS Bolton and the Bolton Council of Mosques, Free
flu vaccinations were also administered and flu certificates issued to the residents of Bolton
following a last minute mandatory requirement made by Saudi Arabia in addition to the requirement
of Meningitis in order to obtain a Hajj visa. Ismail Hafeji, Director of Finance at NHS Bolton spoke
about his personal experiences whilst emphasising the need to protect those at risk “the PCT sees
this as a public health issue and is in line with PCT’s flu immunisation programme, we are happy to
support any group who fall into this criteria”.
Ismail Hefeji, Director of Finance - NHS Bolton, offers his experience of Hajj
Dr
Mohammed Jiva who is part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices Hajj Delegation delivered
practical health tips and advice “more so than ever this year will be a challenge for the medical team
when we fly out to Saudi Arabia next month in light of swine flu, we advise pilgrims to avoid large
crowds and generally protect their health and should they need any medical assistance we will there
to help”. Dr Sohail Ashraf from the Health Protection Agency advised the audience on swine flu and how best to reduce the risk of infection through the simple NHS Catch it, Bin it, Kill it campaign.
Dr Brian Iddon MP who helped launch the initiative was delighted of the work the Council of British
Hajjis had achieved. He said “the pilgrims should be aware that the Government supports its British
citizens to the Hajj and has done so for over 9 years. It is headed by Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn,
they are there to provide consular support as well as medical help, please make sure you use the
services”.
Mohammad Adam, chair of the Bolton Council of Mosques was delighted to see the numbers that
turned up to the seminar which was hosted at the BCOM conference suite. He acknowledged that
there were many issues for pilgrims in particular lack of awareness and access to vaccinations and
abnormal prices for hajj and Umrah packages and looked to the CBH to address these issues for the
residents of Bolton and nationally.
Rashid Mogradia, Director of the Council of British Hajjis said he was delighted with the turnout “ it
is great to see that our message is being delivered nationally and the initiative of Free flu
vaccinations has attracted interest nationally by the wider community as well as the media. We
have had people turn up from as far as Batley and Dewsbury as well as local towns of Blackburn and
Preston and Manchester to hear the speakers deliver advice which we hope will ultimately
contribute towards a pleasant and memorable hajj experience. The presentation by Faz Patel from
the Lancashire Fire & Rescue service also helped drive home the message of staying safe and healthy
at hajj”.
Faz Patel, Lanacashire Fire & Rescue - Safety at Hajj
The Council of British Hajjis continue their national Hajj awareness program, their next date is
Saturday 17th October, 2009 at the Central (Jamia) Mosque, Cumberland Street Blackburn between
2pm and 4pm and at the Bolton University’s 1st Health Mela Chancellor’s Mall and Social Learning
Zone from 10am‐4pm on Saturday 24th October, 2009. For more info and events in your area call
0845 8334145, email info@the‐cbh.org.uk or visit www.the‐cbh.org.uk .
A volunteer doctor from the Bolton Council of Mosques Health forum writes out the certificate so that the necessary Hajj visa from Saudi embassy can be applied for
A pilgrim from Bolton takes the flu Jab administered by a group of volunteer doctors from the Bolton Council of Mosques Health forum
Pilgrims queue to get their Free Flu vaccination and certiticates
All images supplied are copyright of the Council of British Hajjis. Please seek permission prior to usage and that the CBH are acknowledged.