Kemi Afolabi sick, hospitalised in Saudi Arabia
Nollywood Yoruba actress, Kemi Afolabi has been reported hospitalised while on Holy pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The 41-year-old actress reportedly took ill last Thursday from stress associated with the hajj exercise.
According to reports, Kemi had been showing signs of illness while in Medina. She was seen sleeping in the bus during Ziyara (visitation to historical sites) and had to stay in the vehicle while other pilgrims moved around.
It was said that the eight-hour drive from Medina to Mecca apparently took a toll on her.
She told newsmen that she slept in the Mecca Holy Mosque (Masjid Haram) after the Umrah exercise to engage in some other acts of worship.
According to reports, a medical practitioner attached to the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSMPWB), Dr Abideen Aro, disclosed that the actress had symptoms such as fever, headache, loss of appetite and weakness.
Dr Aro of the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre said, “We have warned the pilgrims before leaving Nigeria to use anti-malarial drugs as prophylaxis. But unfortunately, in her case, she didn’t use the drug due to oversight.”
“After noticing those symptoms, I alerted the Head of Lagos State Medical Team, Dr Muhammad Isa, who made an arrangement for an ambulance. I and Nurse Zaynab Sarumi from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) accompanied her in an ambulance to the Nigeria Hajj Commission (NAHCON) Clinic where an assessment of malaria fever was made and she was placed on Intra-Muscular Injections for three days on an out-patient basis.”
The actress has been visited in the hospital by leaders of the Lagos State delegation to Mecca and some well-wishers. Kemi Afolabi being a rather controversial figure, has been in the news over rape allegation, wearing swimsuit and having a tattoo.