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IMI Arbaeen Medical MissionA service, training, and humanitarian mission dedicated to serving the pilgrims (zawaar) of Imam Hussain (AS) during Arbaeen.
Since its beginning, IMI’s Arbaeen Medical Mission has grown from a small international medical team into one of IMI’s most important annual service and training programs.
IMI has coordinated annual medical missions during Arbaeen to serve the zawaar of Imam Hussain (AS).
More than 800,000 zawaar have received free medical care, medications, emergency support, and health services since inception.
More than $800,000 USD has been spent on free medicines, medical supplies, and equipment provided to patients.
During the 17th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission, IMI served 71,941 zawaar through medical care and support services.
More than 750 participants have received certification through IMI-led training programs connected to the mission.
IMI has trained Ataba staff, students, volunteers, and healthcare team members in BLS, ACLS, PALS, mass casualty management, and more.
Since 2010, Imamia Medics International has had the honor of coordinating medical missions during Arbaeen in Iraq. What began as a small medical camp in Karbala with a 9-member international team has grown into one of IMI’s most important annual service, training, and humanitarian programs.
The first Arbaeen Medical Mission served approximately 4,000 zawaar. Over the years, the mission expanded across multiple service areas, included larger international delegations, and brought together physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, students, allied health professionals, translators, and volunteers from Iraq and around the world.
Today, IMI’s Arbaeen Medical Mission is more than a temporary clinic. It is a service mission, a training mission, and a model of international cooperation with Iraqi health partners, universities, local volunteers, and the Holy Shrines.
Applications for IMI’s 18th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission will open soon, InshaAllah.
This year’s mission will continue IMI’s long-standing focus on safe, organized, and high-quality service for the zawaar of Imam Hussain (AS). Given the current regional situation, mission plans, delegate numbers, travel guidance, and on-ground arrangements may be adjusted based on safety, logistics, and the needs of our partners in Iraq.
Interested healthcare professionals, trainees, students, and volunteers should continue to check this page for application details, eligibility information, deadlines, travel guidance, and mission updates.
A look at IMI’s service, training, teamwork, and care for the zawaar of Imam Hussain (AS) during recent Arbaeen Medical Missions. (NOTE: photographs are currently being updated-please check back for an updated gallery of images July 12)
Over the last many years, IMI’s Arbaeen Medical Mission has continued to grow in scale, quality, and impact.
IMI’s early missions expanded from one medical camp to multiple service areas in Karbala and Najaf. Later missions included major medical and dental camps, eye care services, emergency care, specialty care, medication distribution, and support for critical patients.
As the mission grew, IMI’s international delegations also expanded, with delegates joining from North America, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and other regions. This growth allowed IMI to increase both the number of zawaar served and the range of medical services provided.
IMI’s first Arbaeen Medical Mission began with a 9-member international team and served approximately 4,000 zawaar.
The mission expanded from one medical camp to multiple service areas, including medical care, dental care, eye care, emergency support, and specialty services.
IMI added structured training, clinical mentorship, emergency response education, and capacity-building programs for students, volunteers, and staff.
During the 17th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission, IMI served 71,941 zawaar through medical care, emergency support, specialty services, medications, and health-related assistance.
Applications for the 18th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission will open soon, InshaAllah.
IMI teams provide general medical care, emergency care, specialty services, medications, dental care, eye care, wound care, and support for patients who need urgent attention.
IMI also supports Iraqi healthcare capacity through training, supervised clinical exposure, mentorship, and professional development for students, staff, volunteers, and health professionals.
During the 17th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission, IMI served 71,941 zawaar through medical care, emergency support, specialty services, medications, and health-related assistance.
During the mission, IMI teams worked across many areas of care, including general medicine, emergency care, dentistry, dermatology, orthopedics, urology, cardiology, ophthalmology, pharmacy, wound care, and clinical support services.
Patients were treated for a wide range of needs, including heat-related illness, dehydration, respiratory infections, eye infections, wounds, burns, blisters, dental infections, chronic disease management, cardiac symptoms, neurological events, musculoskeletal injuries, and other urgent medical conditions.
The mission also continued IMI’s growing training and education work in Iraq, with students and trainees learning through direct clinical exposure, supervised rotations, structured teaching, and mentorship from experienced specialists.
IMI’s 16th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission served nearly 35,000 zawaar in Karbala.
The mission provided general medical care, emergency assistance, specialist services, dental care, eye care, free medications, and support for critical patients. Specialties represented included Cardiology, Critical Care, Dentistry, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Gastroenterology, Nursing, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oncology, Orthopedics & Trauma, Optometry, Pain Management, Pharmacy, Surgery, Urology, and other clinical areas.
The mission also included point-of-care testing, portable ultrasound, minor procedures, emergency stabilization, dental care, eye care, and support for patients who otherwise may have needed transfer to already burdened hospitals.
A major goal of IMI’s Arbaeen Medical Mission is to support Iraqi healthcare capacity through training, mentorship, and professional development.
In recent years, IMI has provided hands-on training for Iraqi doctors, medical students, nursing students, health professionals, Ataba staff, and volunteers. Training has included CPR, BLS, ACLS, PALS, medical triage, mass casualty management, emergency response, major hemorrhage control, clinical skills, ECG interpretation, point-of-care ultrasound, suturing, dermatology, orthopedics, fluid management, respiratory failure, and medical ethics.
During recent missions, students and trainees have participated in clinical rotations, teaching sessions, case-based learning, work-based assessments, and direct mentorship from IMI specialists. This combination of service and education helps strengthen clinical skills while also emphasizing patient respect, professional communication, ethics, and teamwork.
IMI’s Arbaeen Medical Camp also serves as an academic field teaching environment.
Patients receive direct care while students and trainees learn through supervised clinical exposure. This allows trainees to see how care is delivered in a high-volume, high-pressure setting while maintaining safety, compassion, and professional standards.
The mission also gives students exposure to different specialties and real patient scenarios. Through direct guidance from experienced specialists, students learn how to assess patients, communicate respectfully, understand triage, support emergency care, and work as part of a team.
IMI’s work in Iraq has been built through cooperation with local health institutions, universities, and the Holy Shrines.
Over the years, IMI has worked in cooperation and collaboration with partners including the Karbala Health Department, DG Health Karbala, Ataba Hussainia, Ataba Abbasiya, Ataba Alawiya, local hospitals, universities, and Iraqi healthcare professionals.
Recent mission years have also included important academic and institutional collaborations, including IMI’s work with the Haya’at as Sehaa wa Al Ta’aleem Attibbi of the Ataba Hussainia and educational collaboration involving Sadiq International Virtual University and the University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa.
These partnerships allow IMI to support immediate patient care during Arbaeen while also contributing to long-term education, training, and healthcare capacity building in Iraq.
The Arbaeen Medical Mission is guided by the spirit of service to the pilgrims (zawaar) of Imam Hussain (AS). IMI delegates are expected to serve with humility, patience, professionalism, discipline, and respect.
The mission environment can be intense. Patient volumes are high, the weather can be difficult, and the needs of the zawaar can change quickly. IMI therefore works to prepare delegates for safe service, strong teamwork, and respectful cooperation with Iraqi partners and local volunteers.
To learn more about IMI’s recent Arbaeen Medical Missions, please review the updates below:
Review the post-mission page for IMI’s 17th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission.
View 17th MissionRead the mid-mission update from the 17th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission.
Read UpdateReview the post-mission report for IMI’s 16th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission.
View 16th MissionReview the post-mission report for IMI’s 15th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission.
View 15th MissionApplications for international team members for 18th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission are closed.
You can still serve by donating to the mission!
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For this year’s Arbaeen, our plans include a new program open to all through IMI’s Unique Experiences: Arbaeen Ziyarat & Service Mission, blending spiritual & social programming for your whole family with services for the zawaar of Imam Hussain (A.S.). OPEN TO ALL, not just delegates of IMI's 14th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission
Applications are closed for IMI's 14th Annual Arbaeen Medical Mission. Delegates worked in medical camps, speciality clinics and travelled within Iraq from September 7-19, 2022.
IMI's 16th Arbaeen Medical camp in Karbala served nearly 35,000 zawaar
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