A new emergency center to serve visitors in Karbala

The Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine inaugurated the Sayed Jaafar Al-Hilli Emergency Medical Services Center, affiliated with the Medical Affairs Department, last Friday to provide healthcare services and medical care to visitors and the residents of the holy city of Karbala.

Emergency healthcare represents one of the most prominent areas of concern, given the high population density and continuous movement of visitors in the holy city, which requires field readiness and a rapid response to emergencies.

The center is located about 550 meters from the shrine of Aba al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) and is part of the efforts of the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine to enhance rapid medical response and serve the visitors and residents of the city of Karbala, especially during the million-strong Ziyarats that the city witnesses throughout the year.

This project contributes to reducing medical response times, providing free emergency services, and supporting national efforts to ensure the safety of both visitors and citizens.

A step in the path of supporting medical services
The center represents a new step in supporting the health services provided to visitors and enhancing emergency medical response, especially during the million-visitor events, according to Mr. Jawad Al-Hasnawi, the supervisor of the Medical Affairs Department at the holy shrine.

He added that the choice of the center's location was made with care, as it is situated in the heart of the visitors' movement and is approximately 450 meters from Maytham al-Tammar Street, 650 meters from Bab Baghdad checkpoint, about 650 meters from the entrance of Bab Tuwaireej, and 550 meters from the shrine of Aba al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him), which allows for quick medical intervention and the saving of emergency cases.

Al-Hasnawi explained that the center provides emergency medical services, including first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, treatment for stress and dehydration cases, and minor fractures. It serves visitors, employes of the holy shrine, and the people of Karbala. He indicated that the work plans included strengthening medical staff, increasing equipment, operating in shifts, opening additional units to handle the influx of visitors, and providing emergency evacuation routes directly to the center.

Emergency wards and operating rooms
The head of the Medical Affairs Department, Dr. Haifa Al-Tamimi, said that the center includes a pharmacy, two emergency rooms for men and women, two doctors' rooms, a special section for dentists, a laboratory, a minor surgery room, in addition to a sonography and radiology room and the administrative wing.

Regarding its services, Dr. Haifa Al-Tamimi confirms that the center is the first in the city to offer this type of free emergency medical services, in coordination with the Specialized Medical Operations Department at the Ministry of Health and the Karbala Health Directorate.

Based on this approach, the opening of a specialized center for emergency medical services is an important addition to the healthcare system in the old city, reflecting the level of coordination and integration between the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine and official health institutions in the efforts made to serve the visitors and the residents of the province.

For his part, the assistant head of the department, Mr. Maher Khaled, explained that the center's preparations included equipping the laboratory and radiology with modern devices, in addition to completing the setup of the dental clinic and emergency rooms, and providing all the necessary medical supplies to offer first aid and emergency treatments during the million-visitor events throughout the year.

He pointed out that the opening of the center coincided with the anniversary of the birth of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) on the third of Sha'ban in the blessed year 1447 AH, in the presence of officials and specialists from the Ministry of Health and the Karbala Health Department, along with representatives from the departments of the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine and the province's hospitals.

The Minister of Health praises the quality of the center's services
During his attendance at the center's opening ceremony, Health Minister Dr. Saleh Al-Hasnawi stated that it represents an important addition to the healthcare system, as it is located in the heart of Karbala and provides specialized medical services for emergency cases. He emphasized the city's need for such centers given the large number of visitors, especially on Thursdays, Fridays, and during the million-visitor events.

He added that the presence of nearby emergency centers contributes to the rapid intervention in critical cases and saving lives, emphasizing that emergency services represent the fundamental entry point for initial medical procedures and stabilizing the patient's condition before transferring them to specialized healthcare institutions.

The Minister of Health praised the quality of services provided by the health institutions affiliated with the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine, extending congratulations on the completion of the project.

The opening of the Sayed Jaafar Al-Hilli Emergency Medical Services Center embodies an important strategic step in supporting the healthcare system in the holy city of Karbala, and reflects the continuous attention given by the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine to the safety of visitors and the residents of the province.

The center represents a model of comprehensive free medical services that consider both the humanitarian and professional aspects, keeping pace with the scale of health challenges in densely populated areas. This aligns with the vision of the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine in enhancing the health infrastructure and translating its humanitarian message in serving the visitors of Imam al-Hussayn and his brother Aba al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon them), through sustainable projects that meet the growing health needs in the holy city of Karbala.