Tehran – Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut praised the services of Iran’s Red Crescent Association (IRCS) provided to people during the pilgrimage of Abain.
“The number of referrals to IRCS clinics in Iraq is very high,” Araguchi said, adding that around 800 pilgrims will visit the centre from 3am to 9am, with the number of patients reaching 4,000 during the day.
He made his remarks during a visit to an IRCS-run medical centre in the shrine city of Najaf, Iraq.
“We offer a wide range of services, including visiting patients, injections and serum management. This is admirable. Words cannot express gratitude and gratitude for the voluntary service.”
From July 26th to August 14th, IRCS provides medical services to approximately 4.1 million pilgrims. IRCS health staff visited 1.05 million patients. Approximately 1.39 million pilgrims benefit from paraclinic services (serum therapy, wound dressing, etc.), while 1.6 million others take the medication. During the same period, IRCS staff moved about 249 injured or dead individuals from Iraq to the country.
Albain commemorates the martialism of Imam Hussein on the 40th day of Asura, is the world’s largest annual pilgrimage. This year it fell on August 14th.
Every year, millions of Shiites trek through the 80-kilometre Najaf Kalbara route in a faith-led multinational movement that embodies Islamic unity, solidarity and a lasting call for justice.
According to the head of the IRC, a total of 8,200 rescue workers from the IRC, including relief workers, doctors and nurses, will serve Iraqis this year during the pilgrimage of Aaaain.
Additionally, around 7,000 IRC forces work on routes and boundaries within the country, Ilib quotes Pirhossein Koliband as saying.
The four hospitals will serve in Najaf, Kalbara Highway. He added that the number of medical maukivs (voluntary stations) has also increased in Kabbalah, Najaf and Samara.
Pilgrims can benefit from medical, health and nutrition consultations for free through mobile applications, Koliband noted.
Officials went on to say that the IRC will use more than 200 special vehicles and ambulances to perform the tasks during the Arbaeen pilgrimage.
Iraq praises IRC for its service
In August 2024, Iraqi Health Minister Sale Mehdi al-Hasnawi praised Iran’s Red Crescent Association (IRCS) for his remarkable efforts to provide services during the pilgrimage of Aaaain.
Al-Hasnawi, who met with an Iranian delegation led by Kolivand, said “the cooperation with Iraq’s Ministry of Health in Iran’s Red Crescent Association in providing health services to pilgrims is worthy of praise,” the IRCS website reported.
“The health services are being implemented in cooperation with the parties for all pilgrims, including Iranians and Arabs,” he added.
On August 5, 2024, Iranian and Iraqi officials held a meeting in Baghdad to review and discuss strategies to promote Albaini’s pilgrimage and ensure the safety of pilgrims.
Iran’s Home Minister Majid Miramadi and Koliband followed the latest arrangements held regarding the Albainian pilgrimage in a meeting with Iraq’s Home Minister Abdul Amir al-Shamari.
During the meeting, Iranian officials were given permission to run IRCS rescue helicopters and ambulances and bring in the necessary medicines and equipment to provide medical services to pilgrims.
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