The seminar on “The 3rd International Congress on Health in Arbaeen” was held on Tuesday, 02 May 1402, with the scientific secretary, Dr. Pazouki, and the executive secretary, Dr. Koulivand, as well as some of the heads of Iran’s guilds present.

According to the public relations department of Iran University of Medical Sciences, at this seminar, Dr. Abdolreza Pazouki said that the issue of mass gatherings is one of the most crucial global issues that are considered from different aspects.

He stated that the World Health Organization raised the importance of health issues in mass gatherings about eight years ago, and added that mass gatherings, from the point of view of WHO, are at highest the crowds of tens of thousands of people who come together in a stadium or a concert.

Dr. Pazouki continued to emphasize that during the Arbaeen of Imam Hossein, we observe the largest mass gathering around the axis of Imam Hossein (AS), and we as the medical society, are responsible to be prepared in various aspects to manage and ensure the health of the pilgrims.

The scientific secretary of “The 3rd International Congress on Health in Arbaeen” pointed out that in the previous year, more than twenty-three million pilgrims attended the Arbaeen Hosseini march, of which more than three million were Iranians.

He stated that the first health congress in Arbaeen was held before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the second congress was held last year, and added that this third congress would be a great opportunity to benefit from the past experiences as well as introduce the latest medical achievements to provide better services to the pilgrims.

Dr. Pazouki mentioned that one of the advantages of the congress this year is the expansion of scientific committees, and the best professors of the country along with one hundred and fifty international professors have been invited to speak on the panels.

Referring to a number of the scientific committees of the congress, including Treatment, Health, Medicine and Equipment, Rescue and Relief, Forensic Medicine, Traditional Medicine, and Safety, he pointed out that the third congress on health in Arbaeen will be held from the 2^nd until the 4^th of August in Tehran, and also in order to transfer the experience to the health professionals in Iraq, it will be held on the 4^th and 5^th of September in Karbala.

The differences between Hajj and Arbaeen March

Later during the seminar, Dr. Pirhossein Koulivand, The head of the Red Crescent Society, stated that Hajj and Arbaeen Hosseini March are the largest mass gatherings in the world, but there are some differences.

He continued to say that about two million people participate in the Hajj pilgrimage, whereas we witness the participation of over twenty million pilgrims in the Arbaeen March. Another significant difference is that only healthy adults attend the Hajj pilgrimage, while a wide range from unborn babies inside their mothers’ wombs to elderly men and women participate in the Arbaeen March.

Kolivand highlighted that the Hajj journey is carefully planned, as pilgrims have their guides and doctors in their groups and caravans, and even their daily transportation, meals, and diet are planned, but this is not the case during the Arbaeen pilgrimage.

The executive secretary of the 3^rd International Congress on Health in Arbaeen stressed that diagnosing common diseases and frequent accidents during the Arbaeen March helps reduce the concerns and anxieties of the pilgrims of Imam Hussain (AS) while preventing and dealing with the related risks.

Ghasem Nodeh Farahani, the head of the Chamber of Guilds of Iran, remarked that the Arbaeen March is considered the largest peaceful human gathering globally, which has important social, political, and cultural messages for all human beings.

He stated that the Arbaeen March is the place to register the identity of Shia pacifism and the cause of unity, and added that it is necessary to pay careful attention to the health of the pilgrims who walk on this path wholeheartedly.