2024 Hajj: NAHCON Mulls Appointment Of Volunteers As Medical Team

In a bid to ensure efficiency and effective health care management during the 2024 Hajj Operations, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is planning to restructure the operation of the National Medical Team (NMT) with a view to achieve cost- reduction and sizable personnel.

This was contained in the report of the NMT guidelines review committee submitted to the chairman/CEO of the commission, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, at the boardroom of the Hajj House on Thursday.

According to the report, the re-structuring of NMT operation will ensure accessibility and healthy operation that will help to achieve cost-reduction and the number of personnel in the face of the nation’s current economic reality.

One of the proposals of the committee is the institution of the concept of “volunteerism” in the appointment of medical personnel into the NMT that will entail the procurement of travel visa, provision of accommodation, transportation and payment of stipends to applicants who have been appointed into the National Medical Team.

While receiving the reports of the Committee, NAHCON Chairman, Jalal Ahmad Arabi, expressed appreciation to the committee and assured that the reports would be diligently studied with a view to bringing out a robust working book.

He said, “I want to thank you profoundly for your sacrifice and to assure you that we will work on the report dispassionately. We shall study the provisions of the reports and the recommendations therein, I congratulate and appreciate your commitment and diligence and I want to assure you that whatever we bring out will satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of all Nigerians, the intending Pilgrims and those who wish to perform the pilgrimage in the future”.

According to Arabi, NAHCON will continue to provide oversight and work with partners and stakeholders to ensure that pilgrims’ health care services are given utmost priority.

“I can assure you that we will expedite action to ensure the full implementation of the provisions in the guidelines, including some of those that were partially done in the past,” Arabi said in a press statement signed by Mousa Ubandawaki, Deputy Director, NAHCON, and made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Review Committee, Dr Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa, said the report would enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Medical Team during the 2024 Hajj, stressing that the report would offer the commission a roadmap to financing as well as the provision of health services to intending pilgrims while in Nigeria and in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“I am confident that the implementation of the report will yield positive and desired results within the shortest possible time,” he stated.