A Review of the Conditionof OPD Patients in Arba’eenOn-foot Pilgrimagein 2019

Theannual religious ritualofArba’eenis the globallargestmass gatheringof pilgrims from different countries participating in a mass movement on an80-kmpathwayto visit the Shrine of Imam Hussein, the grandson ofProphet Muhammad. The provision of health care for such a mass movement has always been an important vital issue for the health care system.

The current study investigatedthe common illnesses in addition tothequantity ofhealth care services offered by temporary clinics and health stations locatedon the way to the shrineto such a mass gathering of on-feet pilgrimsin Iraq in Arba’een2019.

Thiscross-sectional study was conducted at temporary clinicsand health stations where pilgrims in need of nursing, midwifery,and pharmaceutical carewere providedwith servicesby general and expert physicians on the way fromNajaf toKarbalain Iraqduring a week inOctober 2019.

Imam Reza Temporary Clinic offered services to a total of 26,875patients, including 9,934 females(36.96%) and 16,941males(63.04%),on all days of the week.The most common chief complaintreportedby the patients were musculoskeletalproblems(n=11,945; 21.99%),foot blisters(n=11,372; 20.94%),and skin lesions (n=10,662; 19.62%).

The present studyhighlighted the needforprovidingmore organized services, especiallyin emergency health care,andnecessity of paying furtherand closer attention to the significance of the health history of those pilgrimsattendingsuch religious mass gatheringsinprevious years