A 30-year-old Nigerian pilgrim gave birth to a baby boy at a Saudi hospital during the 2024 Hajj, marking the first birth of the pilgrimage season.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the woman arrived at the hospital’s emergency room experiencing labour pains at 31 weeks of pregnancy.
The emergency team swiftly assessed her condition and transferred her to the maternity ward, where she delivered her baby boy naturally. While the mother is recovering, her premature baby, named Mohammad, is receiving special care.
Dr. Abubakar Ismail, Head of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Medical Mission, confirmed that the woman hails from Borno State. He revealed that the National Medical Team received a report from the Borno State Medical Team indicating that the woman evaded the mandatory medical screening in Nigeria.
Despite a policy restricting pregnant women from traveling for Hajj, incidents of Nigerian pilgrims giving birth during the pilgrimage continue. NAHCON reported that in 2023, seventy-five pregnant women traveled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj after bypassing statutory recommendations, resulting in various medical complications due to stress and heatwaves.
The birth of Mohammad underscores ongoing challenges in enforcing medical policies for Hajj pilgrims and highlights the need for stricter adherence to guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.