Alissa Wahid: The Need for Additional Female Hajj Officers is Urgent

JAKARTA - Gusdurian Network Director Alissa Wahid considers the addition of the number of Hajj officers, especially female officers, to be a real and urgent need to improve the quality of service for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.

Alissa said the increase in the number of female Hajj officers to 30 percent was a very positive step, considering the need for female pilgrims to have characteristics that are different from male pilgrims.

"For female pilgrims, the increase in the number of female officers to 30 percent is a very positive step. In 2022 when I was part of the monitoring and evaluation team, the number of female religious guides and haj officers was still very limited," said Alissa while giving material in the Hajj Officer Training in the Hajj Dormitory Pondok Gede, Jakarta, Tuesday, quoted by Antara.

According to him, the limitation of female officers has a direct impact on services in the field, including in the fulfillment of basic facilities such as bathrooms.

When he was a haji officer, he often improvised by using some of the men's bathrooms for female pilgrims at certain times.

"This is forced to be done because the number of bathrooms is the same, while the time and needs of female worshipers in the bathroom are longer. These improvised policies should be responded to systematically, not just as emergency solutions in the field," he said.

Apart from the issue of women, Alissa also highlighted the major challenges in the service of elderly pilgrims. He emphasized that the country has a moral responsibility to ensure safe and comfortable Hajj services for elderly pilgrims.

"Services must be adjusted to the needs of elderly pilgrims so that worship runs smoothly, while reducing health risks, diseases, and deaths. All of this starts with the readiness and intention of the Hajj officers," he said.

According to Haji, the haji officers are a source of security and comfort for pilgrims, especially women and the elderly. Therefore, increasing the number and quality of haji officers must be the main concern of the government.