Updated 1 March 2011

With the Grace of Allah (SWT) and Ahlulbayt (AS), Imamia Medics International (IMI) had the unique honour and privilege to run the Second Annual Arbaeen Medical Camp in Karbala this January 2011.  IMI has been organizing Muharram Medical Camps throughout the world for years—however, IMI’s annual medical camp at Babul Qibla of Imam Hussain (AS) was and continues to be an amazing and humbling experience.

This Arbaeen, IMI’s international delegation comprised of 14 healthcare professionals from USA, UK, Canada, Bahrain and Pakistan. With the help of the IMI Iraq Chapter, local doctors, paramedics and volunteers were able to work in tandem to provide primary and advanced health care to a fraction of the 15 million lovers of Imam (AS) who came from all over the world to pay homage, respect and condolences to the Shahansha e Karbala and the shuhadas (martyrs). IMI Delegates also met with religious authorities in Iraq and had the opportunity and the tawfeeq to perform the Ziyarats of the Shrines all over Iraq.

The Second Annual IMI Arbaeen Medical Camp was set up on Wednesday 19th January 2011 and ran till Wednesday 26th January. The atabah of Imam Husain (AS) and Hazrat Abbas (AS) were instrumental in providing a double ended medical tent with seven beds and a mobile, well-equipped ambulance for the IMI Medical Camp. The delegation had with them medical supplies worth approximately $15,000 (USD) brought over from UK, Canada and USA for the benefit of Zawwars. 

The camp operated a two-shift system of eight hours each from 8am to 11pm and operated until 4am on Arbaeen Eve and 2am on Arbaeen Day. Each shift had seven doctors, one or two dentists and a pharmacist on duty, as well as various medical volunteers and translators at all times. Three beds were allocated with seven drip lines at the ready most of the time, and the well-equipped dental unit had a bay of its own, and ran successfully on a very professional basis. The pharmacy was very well stocked and medications brought over catered to most of the patients needs extremely well. The well-equipped stationary ambulance was very busy catering for more serious cases and was also used by female doctors to treat the female patients, who had their prescriptions filled by the pharmacy sector of the camp. All in all the camp, although chaotic at times due to a very large number of patients, operated very well and professionally.

During Arbaeen commemorations, the local Iraqi people come walking from as far away as Basra, Samarrah, Sulaimaniyyah, Nasariyyah, and Baghdad. It can take up to ten days to get to Kerbala. The zawaars, seeking medical attention, were registered at the camp, with their names, age, gender, condition and symptoms, and then seen by the physician, dentist, pharmacist, nurse or other relevant medical professionals before being discharged.  A very large number of patients had their blood pressure, blood sugar levels and general condition assessed by the appropriate physician as a routine analysis in the first instance.  A large number of patients had run out of their various medications and were given their medications as well. In a rare event of medications not being available in the medical camp, physicians issued prescriptions to be dispensed by other local pharmacies in the vicinity of the camp.

The common ailments were: fatigue, muscle spasms, foot-blisters, hypertension, dehydration, seizures, and asthma-related conditions, traumas, deep cuts, diabetes, gallstones and chronic renal pains due to kidney stones, severe joint pains, arthritis, GI complaints, common flues and colds amongst others. On a few rare occasions, patients were stabilised at the medical camp, and then transported by the ambulance on hand to the hospital with an accompanying physicians report. On one occasionn, an IMI Physician had to accompany the patient to the hospital.

 
Finally, as part of IMI’s ongoing Nebuliser Project, IMI Delegates presented Dr. Raid Umran, the Chapter Head of IMI Iraq, with one hundred and two nebuliser units for the use and free distribution to the needy asthmatic children of Najaf, Kerbala and Hilla through the various Hospital outlets. Thus far, IMI has raised over $30,000 USD for the Nebuliser Project through various donors, including approximately $11,500 over the year through World Federation’s response to the Bibi Sakina Nebuliser Project. IMI thanks World Federation and all of our other donors for generously supporting this program.

Arbaeen Medical Camp in Kerbala is an annual feature.

We are inviting all doctors and healthcare personnel from around the world to be part of this service for the Zaireen e Imam, AS. Please email IMI at imihq@imamiamedics.org if you are interested in volunteering or supporting the programme next year.

Please note: applications will close at the end of Mahe Mubarak e Ramadhan 1432.

Alternatively IMI is working in partnership with Imam Al Asr Clinic in Kerbala and is offering an opportunity to health professional who would like to volunteer their service to serve not only the Zaeereens of Imam Hussain AS, but also the local residence of Kerbala. If you are interested to volunteer your service please contact Dr Wasi Haider on maxfaxwasi@gmail.com. Accommodation will be provided at no cost in Kerbala