Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

Report from: ZAUMS  Arbaeen Health & Treatment Committee
Published on:  9  October 2019

The ritual of Arbaeen with the spiritual and passionate presence of millions of lovers of Imam Hussein (PBUH) has become an emblem of unity and solidarity among Muslims. Every year, a large number of Imam Hussein (PBUH) lovers and Shiites from Pakistan cross the Iranian border through the Mile 72 Border Terminal, located 10 kilometers from Mirjaveh, to join the Great Arbaeen Walk event. After one or two days stop in Imam Reza (AS) Pilgrim House in the city of Zahedan, they depart to Iraq.

Given the fact that some infectious diseases such as polio, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever are endemic in Pakistan, massive population movements across the borders, can pose major challenges to public health. Living in crowded conditions can particularly expose pilgrims and locals to infectious diseases. One of the most common infectious diseases threats in mass gatherings is the issue of water and food borne diseases. The purpose of this program was to maintain the health of each pilgrim and the host population by intensifying health care, controlling environmental factors, screening for infectious diseases, and identifying patients and treating them

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To provide health & treatment services to Pakistani pilgrims, the Emergency Operational Program (EOP) for Arbaeen event to manage the special conditions of Pakistani pilgrims attending the Arbaeen Grand Walk Ceremony in 2019 with respect to human dignity and the observing the rights pilgrims of Abu Abdullah al-Hussein (AS) was planned. The EOP was planned in accordance with the guidelines and directives issued by the Ministry of Health of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition, the International Health Regulations (IHR) guidelines with an emphasis on the implementation of syndromic surveillance of infectious disease (15 syndromes) based on WHO guidelines as well as experiences, lessons learned from previous year events were considered in the planning of the program. The program was designed based on the National and University Disaster Response Program framework.

Mirjaveh Health Network and Zahedan Health Center, with the support and supervision of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, in collaboration with the member organizations of the Arbaeen Health Committee of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, have established two Arbaeen Health Mowkibs in Zahedan and Mirahjaveh.

Services include: outpatient (physicians and dentists), pre-hospital emergency services, temporary hospitalization, midwifery, and pharmacy services, health promotion and education. Dar_alshafa Hospital in Mirjawa and all university and non-university hospitals in Zahedan, especially the Khatam Al-Anbia Training Center, which is the province"s trauma center, were designated to provide inpatient services.

In addition to the implementation of the syndromic surveillance, all incoming passengers, regardless of their age, receive Oral Polio Vaccine, according to the guidelines provided by the Iranian Ministry of Health. Malaria cases are diagnosed using the Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT). In addition to the ongoing monitoring of water resources, as well as supervision and sampling of food preparation and distribution centers located at the Mill 72 Terminal Border and Imam Reza (PBUH) Pilgrim House, the waste management, environmental monitoring and environmental disinfection activities will be carried out.

One of the main activities of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences is to engage the Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) to provide services to Arbaeen pilgrims.  A booklet titled "Arbaeen Pilgrims Travel Guide" was prepared in Urdu and Farsi to maintain the health of pilgrims with the principle of self-care and with the aim of minimizing health risks. The contents of this booklet include: personal hygiene, respiratory Health, water and food hygiene, cholera prevention, malaria, health advice for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, health recommendations for pregnant women. Distribution of educational video in Urdu in CD format, design and production and installation of educational posters and rollups in Farsi, Urdu and English, and providing necessary training to prevent transmission of communicable diseases to pilgrims, drivers, and staff through pamphlets, posters. Face to face training is one of the educational activities in this regard.

Monitoring and evaluation will be carried out through visits of university authorities and public health experts from different areas of the university and obtaining information on the process of service provision and monitoring of the performance of the deployed teams and providing necessary guidance and support. Conducting regular expert and management meetings also ensured the improvement of service quality during operations.

Copyright © 2019 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Date updated: 10/09/2019.
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