IMI's 16th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission

Nearly 35,000 served this Arbaeen

IMI's team members returned home in early September after a very successful 16th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission. Mashallah, during the short mission, many key objectives were accomplished.

The primary complaints our general medical patients came in with included sore throats, runny noses, headaches, body pains (including generalized, stomach, back, leg, knee and foot pain as well as tooth pain for dental), congestion, and cough.

Most Common Diagnosis

Many patients were diagnosed with cold/flu, respiratory infections, generalized and chronic pain, rash, arthritis, 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.

Specialists were also included through our telemedicine clinic this Arbaeen, with Philomin Lawrence liaising with the IMI telemedicine consultation panel as IMI’s 16th Arbaeen Medical Mission Telemedicine Coordinator.

While many patients seen through the IMI Arbaeen Medical Mission in Karbala can be dealt with reasonably quickly and efficiently by the team of healthcare professionals, some issues require much deeper management and specialist expertise. Operating as a Field Hospital, IMI's Arbaeen Medical Camp team quickly and deftly took care of these needs, performing tertiary level care in the field as required. Patients came in with a deep lacerations as well as with abscesses. In addition to minor surgical procedures, IMI's teams also handled several emergencies each day--saving the lives of hundreds of zawaar.

i-STAT: Blood Analysis labs for Critical patients

Critical patients benefited with advanced care not only through our specialists but also with the use Arbaeen Medical Mission's latest equipment: the i-STAT, a portable blood analyzer that provides lab-quality diagnostic results quickly and is used for point-of-care testing in critical care situations including hospital emergency rooms.

Approximately 30 critical patients were helped with the use of this new device. In addition, a point-of-care portable ultrasound was also available for complex cases requiring this further evaluation.

Critical Cases

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

The Pharmacy

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

Spotlight on IMI's Dental Care

With state-of-the-art dental chairs and equipment, IMI's Dental team worked tirelessly to cater to their never-ending patient lines each day.

The team saw 750 patients providing a range of services:

• Oral hygiene instructions (showing brushing and flossing techniques)
• Treating Infections
• Puss drainage
• Root Canal Treatment
• Pulpotomy
• Pulpectomy
• Extractions
• Fillings
• Scaling
• Prescribing Antibiotics and pain relief medications.

IMI's Arbaeen Eye Clinic

Eye care was provided by Dr. Asghar Rajani this year, who worked at a tremendous pace to ensure we were able to help as many as possible.

In less than one week of service, 1400 patients were helped with free glasses given as necessary as well.

Donations of Medications & Supplies

In addition to the free medications provided to patients at our camp in Karbala, this year IMI also donated medications for use at other camps, and clinics working year-round including approximately $7000-8000 USD of medications for the Al Asr Medical Center under the leadership of Maulana Sabzwary.

Training & Mentorship

One of the critical goals of IMI’s work in Iraq and something that sets IMI's Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission apart from all other clinics, training for Iraqis, was also accomplished. Iraqi doctors, medical and nursing students, as well as other health professionals, were able to benefit from hands-on experience working with IMI delegates seeing both how care for patients is delivered medically but also ethically and through a systematic layered triage approach that includes patient sensitive, professional communication.

Collaboration

Alḥamdulillāh, during our trip we also signed two new Memorandums of Understanding to further collaboration and work within Iraq. To complement the existing IMI and Warith AlAnbiyaa University MoU, an additional MoU was signed between SIVU and Warith Al Anbiyaa to further enhance medical education and training for the University.

An MoU was also signed to establish cooperation and collaboration between Imamia Medics International (IMI) and Haya’at as Sehaa wa Al Ta’aleem Attibbi (Authority of Health & Medical Education) of Al Husseiniya Holy Shrine (Ataba Husseiniya) for the improvement of education and health in Iraq

Ziyarat

As in previous years, IMI's 16th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission started off by drawing on spirituality and reaffirming our commitments of service to our Imams with galvanizing Ziyarat visits to Najaf, Kufa, Samarra and Kadhmain, before coming into Karbala to pay respects there.

Everlasting Relationships Forged

A quick look at a handful of images that capture the camaraderie and team spirit that grows quickly and deeply to bind us together as one--as the IMI Arbaeen family which has been nurtured for 16 years and Inshallah will only continue to grow each year!

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 17, 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 Mission 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 16th 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.
Let us continue to stand united in our commitment to making a positive impact on the world. We urge you all to consider applying for the 17th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission (August 2-17) should our Imam invite us again next year. We look forward to our future missions together and to the difference we will undoubtedly continue to make.