MIMIKA - Hajj organizing authorities in Mimika Regency, Central Papua, have begun preparing for the 1448 Hijriah or 2027 AD Hajj season. These preparations commenced with a cross-agency coordination meeting to align the health examination mechanisms for prospective Hajj pilgrims well in advance.
The Head of the Mimika Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj), Muhammad Hilal, explained that this acceleration of medical checks follows a direct instruction from the central Ministry of Religious Affairs. This new scheme is intentionally implemented earlier to allow a longer period for health verification to guarantee the physical readiness of the pilgrims.
Unlike previous years which used a randomized system, this year's examinations will be conducted structurally at the Puskesmas (community health centers) corresponding to each pilgrim's domicile. The Mimika Kemenhaj has also established communication with other regional offices to facilitate medical coordination and documentation for pilgrims coming from outside the region.
To date, the temporary quota for the 2027 departure stands at 168 pilgrims, including 13 priority elderly pilgrims. However, only 127 pilgrims have reported their administrative readiness, so the remaining 40 prospective pilgrims are expected to submit their official reports soon.
The Mimika Regency Health Office has ensured that this entire series of health examinations will be provided free of charge through the local government's Medical Check Up (MCU) program. These free medical services, which include complete blood counts and general health indicators, will be centered in three main locations: the Timika Puskesmas, Pasar Sentral Puskesmas, and Wania Puskesmas.
