Ministry Of Religion: Of The 679 Mataram Hajj Candidates, 20 Use Wheelchairs

Archives. Prospective Hajj 2023 using a wheelchair remains enthusiastic about participating in the release of pilgrims from Mataram City, NTB. (ANTARA/Nirkomala)

NTB - The Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) said as many as 20 prospective pilgrims from Mataram City were registered using wheelchairs during the 445 Hijri/2024 pilgrimage.

"Of the 679 pilgrims from Mataram City in 2024, 20 of them have reported and recorded using wheelchairs," said Head of the Hajj and Umrah Organizers Section (PHU) of the Mataram City Ministry of Religion, H Kasmi in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, Tuesday, May 7, confiscated by Antara.

He said, as many as 20 Hajj candidates who reported themselves would use the wheelchair assistance because of unfavorable physical conditions and the average was categorized as elderly (elderly).

"By using a wheelchair, automatically the 20 registered Hajj candidates are categorized as high risk pilgrims (crysties)," he said.

According to him, the data collection of prospective pilgrims who will use wheelchairs during the pilgrimage can make it easier for officers and assistants to supervise from departure to the Holy Land and return to the country in the future.

The limitation of the physical condition of the congregation who use a wheelchair, he continued, is certainly a priority for officers with various special handlings in accordance with applicable procedures and regulations.

Even when departing from the Hajj dormitory to the airport, he said, pilgrims who use wheelchairs do not join the bus group along with other congregations. "Congregants who use wheelchairs will use an ambulance to the airport," he said.

While alluding to the departure of prospective pilgrims, Kasmi said as many as 679 Mataram City Hajj candidates were members of two groups, namely one complete group and one mixed group.

The complete group of Mataram City is included in the one Lombok Embarkation group as many as 393 people, and 144 of them are in the elderly category and will enter the Hajj dormitory on Saturday 11 May and depart for Madinah Airport on Sunday 12 May.

"In batch one, the oldest is on behalf of Mahruf (89) from Ampenan District and the youngest is 23 years old," he said.

Meanwhile, as many as 286 prospective Hajj candidates for Mataram City cluster 7 are members of 177 Central Lombok Regency and are scheduled to enter the dormitory on Sunday 19 May morning and are flown to the Holy Land of Medina on Monday 20 May.

"We hope that all prospective pilgrims can continue to maintain their health so that they can carry out all the mandatory pillars and sunnah hajj and become a hajj major," he said.