Bandar Seri Begawan - A Total of 199 Haj Pilgrims departed for the holy city of Mekah yesterday at the Brunei International Airport, Berakas with four medical officers to look after their health.

This is the final batch of the total 766 Haj pilgrims, accompanied by 33 medical and religious officers.

Families, friends and relatives of Haj pilgrims from the four districts - Belait, Brunei-Muara, Temburong, Tutong - were seen bidding farewell to their loved ones leaving Brunei for a month journey to perform the fifth and final pillar of Islam.

Preparations for the intending pilgrims, who are senior citizens, children and adults, have already been arranged by the authorities at the holy land to ensure that their health and medical needs are met during their journey.

According to a medical officer from the Bi'thah Haji Administration and Bi'thah Medical Haji of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ramlah Kisut said that four medical officers would board the same flight.

"A team of four medical officers will supervise the third batch of pilgrims. A dedicated two male and female medical officers that will look after the pilgrims to ensure that they stay in good health," she said.

Speaking on the medical supplies, Ramlah said that vaccines for the H1N1 virus and other "sufficient medical supplies" have already been sent to the holy land to cater to their group of Haj intending pilgrims.

"Cargoes comprising a tonnes' worth of medical supplies, including medicine and medical equipment, have already been shipped to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last month," she said.

Prior to their departure, the pilgrims had also attended the audience with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolk lab Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the Istana Nurul Iman earlier this week.

During the audience, the Haj intending pilgrims were each given a bag upon exiting the mom ihram for males (worn during the pilgrimage to the plains of Arafah) and telekong (female prayer attire) for women.

The past three days the airport has been the scene of emotional send-offs as Bruneians pray for the safety of pilgrims.  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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