Hajj Health Centre Head Budi Sylvana said that the Hajj Pilgrim Health Alert Card (K3JH) will be distributed to pilgrims, as they will remain under health monitoring for 21 days despite having arrived healthy in Indonesia.
"If within the 21-day period (returning Hajj pilgrims) experience symptoms, they must report to and seek medical care at the nearest health facility with the K3JH," he stated here Wednesday.
The monitoring process is an early-detection procedure for infectious diseases that Hajj pilgrims may experience, such as COVID-19, MERS-CoV, meningitis, polio, and other diseases that potentially cause Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIOC), the health centre official noted.
Health Ministry's Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control No. HK.02.02/C/2782/2022 on health examination and monitoring of Hajj pilgrims at embarkation and debarkation points is the legal basis for the monitoring process, he noted.
Hajj pilgrims are still required to submit the health alert card if they remain healthy beyond the 21-day observation period, he added.
Sylvana appealed to arriving Hajj pilgrims to maintain clean and healthy lifestyle habits, such as getting adequate rest, consuming nutritious foods, and maintaining personal hygiene after arriving at their hometown and during the health observation period.
Related news: Health Ministry to monitor health of Hajj returnees
The official then noted that after arriving at the debarkation point, Hajj pilgrims will undergo health examination through temperature checks and observation of possible disease symptoms that they may experience.
When arriving Hajj pilgrims have fever or show symptoms of infectious disease, they will be directed to take a COVID-19 antigen test and undergo further health checks, he noted.
Apart from performing health screening, the Health Ministry will also ready health stations, replete with ambulances and medical officers, at debarkation airports for health, emergency, and referral services, Sylvana stated.
He said the ministry has also collaborated with regional health offices to conceive a health monitoring system for Hajj pilgrims arriving at their hometowns.
Related news: Healthy Hajj returnees not need to quarantine: official
Translator: Desi Purnamawati, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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