2025 Hajj: Nigeria records over 15 psychiatric cases, 3 miscarriages in Saudi Arabia

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has reported the treatment of over 15 acute psychiatric cases and three miscarriages during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Sani Garba, head of the NAHCON medical team, disclosed these figures during a post-Hajj review meeting held in Mecca on Tuesday.

He described managing psychiatric patients as a major challenge due to the unavailability of antipsychotic drugs in Saudi Arabia.

“We faced serious difficulties managing more than 15 patients with acute psychiatric conditions.

“Accessing antipsychotic medication was particularly tough, as we weren’t permitted to purchase them locally.

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“Our only option was to refer patients to Saudi hospitals for treatment and return them afterward,” Garba said.

He also highlighted the case of pilgrims with known psychiatric histories who could not bring their prescribed medications into Saudi Arabia due to restrictions.

“We are calling on NAHCON’s management to urgently address this issue ahead of future pilgrimages,” he added.

In addition to the psychiatric cases, Garba revealed that there were four pregnancy-related incidents among Nigerian pilgrims.

Of these, three ended in miscarriage, while one pilgrim successfully delivered her baby in Madina. The commission also recorded nine deaths during the pilgrimage.

The NAHCON medical team operated through four main departments: consultation, emergency services, referrals, and infection prevention/public health education.

Services were delivered across 2,012 locations within the pilgrim tents.

During the critical phases at Mina and Arafat, the medical team attended to 10,886 patients—6,340 males and 4,546 females—at over 20 field offices.

From the start of the 2025 Hajj operations, a total of 15,186 patients received consultations, including 8,460 men and 6,726 women.

Elderly pilgrims made up approximately 40% of emergency cases, many of whom had pre-existing chronic medical conditions that worsened during the physically demanding rituals.

“We resuscitated 41 patients in ambulances and referred 21 others to health facilities in Mina and Mecca,” Garba said.

The most common diagnoses included severe dehydration and psychiatric disorders.

The medical team managed a wide range of conditions using medications such as antipsychotics, analgesics, anti-diabetics, anti-hypertensives, and antibiotics.

Two ambulances were on standby for emergency services, through which 68 pilgrims received urgent care.

Dr. Garba praised the efforts of the 14 doctors, 18 nurses, and 8 pharmacists who worked tirelessly to ensure the well-being of Nigerian pilgrims during the Hajj.