IMI's 15th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission

Nearly 50,000 served this Arbaeen

The primary complaints our general medical patients came in with included cough (dry & productive), body pains (including generalized, back, leg, knee and foot pain), congestion, headaches, dizziness and blisters.

Many patients were diagnosed with cold/flu, respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, as well as heat-related illnesses including heat stroke, heat exhaustion and dehydration.

A range of specialists were available to handle all needs ranging from a variety of skin rashes and infections to surgical procedures.

Patients came in with a deep lacerations as well as with abscesses including pilonidal abscess. Another of a patient needed the reconstruction of the tip of his amputated finger in his right hand after injuring it in a machine.

IMI's emergency team first gave him antibiotics, pain management and a wound washout while specialists prepared for his procedure. The patient then had the terminisation of his finger tip while under local anaesthetics before his wound was expertly closed by the IMI surgeon. The patient was discharged - with antibiotics - with treatment follow-ups through daily dressings at the camp.

In addition to surgical procedures, IMI's teams also handled several emergencies each day--saving the lives of hundreds of zawaar.

This year a number of emergency cases were due to dehydration and heat exhaustion. A large number of critical patients with myocardial infarction, epilepsy, stroke, heat stroke, and acute abdomen were also successfully resuscitated and stabilized prior to transport to the nearby hospitals.

Our team also set a number of injuries in plaster of paris casts to ensure proper healing of fractures. One case involved a patient who suffered a left wrist fracture after falling in the Imam Ali (AS) Shrine in Najaf. At the time, the 68-year-old was put into a temporary half cast. At IMI’s Arbaeen Medical Camp in Karbala, the temporary cast was changed to a complete plaster of Paris cast to provide more stability of the fracture and prevent any further loss of position.

Under constant pressure, our incredible pharmacy team worked diligently to ensure prescriptions were filled quickly. They kept an eye on stock levels with daily inventories, projections of items to purchase to provide the necessary medications for the zawaar for free.

IMI's Arbaeen Eye Clinic

More than 700 seen over the course of just a week, eye check-ups were provided by our Doctor of Optometry for hundreds of patients with free glasses given to patients as necessary as well.

Orientation & Set-up

While our work for the camp begins many months in advance, the team also comes together for our on-the-ground orientation and final set-up activities the day before the camp opens. On August 28, the team came together to help clean, place banners, move in medications, process inventory and much more.

Closing the Camp

One of the hardest things to do each time is to close the Arbaeen Medical Camp with prayers that we receive the call to serve again next year. Following Ziyarat-e-Arbaeen, our closing this year included the recognition of each team member for their tremendous work and diligent efforts to provide services for the zawaar of our Imam. As we reflect on our recent mission to provide medical assistance during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, we want to express my deepest gratitude and admiration for each and every one of our our team. It was an honor and privilege to serve with all of you.Our journey was not just a physical one but a journey of compassion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving those in need and not less than zawaar of Imam Hussain (A.S.). Together, we embarked on a mission that demanded tireless effort, empathy, and a spirit of selflessness. We are proud to say that we not only met but exceeded our goals, making a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals and in return gained enormous spiritual fulfillment with happiness of our Imam AJTM. Even then we feel we did very little for Ahlul Bait (A.S.) and hope for the opportunity to return to serve again.

The success of IMI’s 15th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission would not have been possible without the collective expertise, teamwork, and resilience that the team all brought to the table. Its professionalism, whether it was providing medical care, logistical support, or simply offering a comforting presence, shone brightly throughout the entire mission. Our ability to work together as a cohesive unit, adapting to challenging circumstances and delivering vital medical aid to those in need, has left a lasting impression on IMI. It serves as a testament to our shared values and our unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the local communities and organizations that supported our mission, as their cooperation was instrumental in our success.

As we return from this mission, let us carry forward the lessons learned, the bonds forged, and the shared memories that will forever connect us. Our work during the Arbaeen pilgrimage is a testament to what can be achieved when individuals come together with a common purpose and a heart full of compassion connected to Imam Hussain.
Once again, our sincerest appreciation for the team’s dedication, sacrifices, and incredible contributions to this mission. Each of you have made a real difference in the lives of those we served, and you have made us all proud. Let us continue to stand united in our commitment to making a positive impact on the world. We look forward to our future missions together and to the difference we will undoubtedly continue to make.