The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board will on Monday, July 10 commence pregnancy test for female intending pilgrims in the state.
Similarly, the mandatory screening for all other intending pilgrims would commence on the same date.
The Public Relations Officer of the board, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kano.
He said the screening, which would be conducted at the designated centres, was aimed at ascertaining the health status of all the intending pilgrims.
He said the mandatory screening was also in compliance with the NAHCON’s directive to all the pilgrim welfare boards in the country.
He said that the board had concluded the necessary arrangement to ensure the success of the exercise across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
He urged all intending pilgrims in the state to attend the screening while female intending pilgrims must also go for the pregnancy test.
Badamasi said, “Because of the importance attached to the exercise, no pilgrim will be allowed to go to the Holy land without being screened.”
On payment of Hajj fare, the Public Relations Officer said most of the pilgrims had met the deadline by completing their payment.
NAN recalled that the state pilgrim welfare board had on May 31 gave all intending pilgrims, who paid the deposit, two weeks within which to pay the balance or risk losing their seat.
NAN reports that no fewer than 6,607 pilgrims from Kano state are expected to perform the 2017 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.