TEHRAN –The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) will host the International Congress on Relief and Rescue, Health, and Mass Gatherings in Arbaeen in Tehran from August 1-2.

Relief and rescue in Arbaeen; hygiene, treatment, and health; training, research, and technology; mass gatherings; passive defense; and public participation will be the topics of the conference, the IRCS website reported.

The Arbaeen pilgrimage, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of Shia Muslims, and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Each year, a huge crowd of people flocks to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rituals.

This year Arbaeen falls on August 25.

Also, the 4th international congress on “Health in Arbaeen” was held in Tehran from July 3 to 5.

This year some five million Iranian pilgrims are estimated to attend the Arbaeen trek.

“Providing medical services to improve the health of pilgrims is one of the important concerns of the health sector and this congress,” ILNA quoted Abdolreza Pazouki, Iran University of Medical Science President, as saying.

A total of 3,500 national and international participants attended the 4th congress. Hosting the event, the Iraqis comprised the majority of foreign attendees to enhance services to pilgrims.

The congress focused on the following scientific areas including accidents and hazards; artificial intelligence; traditional medicine; processions; environmental health; nursing; relief and rescue.

It also covered rehabilitation; forensic medicine; mental health; nutrition; cultural issues; pharmaceuticals; medical tools; as well as mawkibs (voluntary stations to serve the pilgrims). Moreover, some new topics such as dentistry and oral hygiene were discussed.

MT/MG