Local resident praised for providing free support to cancer patients in Al-Maimouna

MAYSAN — In Al-Maimouna, a city in Iraq’s Maysan province, Hajj Adel Ahmed has quietly spent the last five years offering free accommodations and support to cancer patients traveling for treatment at the Al-Maimouna Oncology Center. Patients from provinces like Nineveh, Anbar, and Salah Al-Din receive hospitality in 10 furnished homes donated by local benefactors, easing the burden of their extended stays.

The initiative recently gained national attention after tribal leaders from Al-Shirqat district in Salah Al-Din shared a video praising Hajj Adel’s efforts. The video came after he personally transported the body of a deceased patient back to Al-Shirqat, reflecting the deep gratitude felt by the patient’s family and community.

“I did not expect the video clip to spread this way among the people of the province and perhaps throughout Iraq. The idea is that I transported one of the deceased cancer patients from Al-Shirqat back to his hometown. He was an elderly man receiving treatment. When we arrived there, the people of Al-Shirqat received us with generosity, warmth, and such kind hospitality that it made us feel humbled,” Adel told 964media.

The Al-Maimouna Oncology Center is the only facility in southern Iraq offering linear accelerator radiation therapy, making it a critical destination for cancer patients. Hajj Adel’s initiative provides free meals, housing, and transportation to and from the center, with patients typically staying one to two weeks per visit for treatment courses lasting three to six months.

Salih Ismail, a patient from Mosul, shared his initial hesitation about traveling to Maysan but was encouraged by Mosul doctors who praised the Al-Maimouna center’s staff and the assistance from Hajj Adel, who treated him like family.

Ahmed Abdullah, also a Mosul resident, remarked, “There are people throughout the Maysan province who welcome you and offer assistance without charge. Several shop owners refuse to take money from us simply because we are guests.”