Dhi Qar clinics offer free and discounted medical care throughout Muharram

DHI QAR — Following the success of a five-day free medical campaign in Kut during Ashura, clinics and health centers in Souq al-Shouyokh and other areas of Dhi Qar have launched similar initiatives, offering free or heavily discounted healthcare services throughout the month of Muharram.

Participating facilities include Al-Zahraa Nursing Clinic, Al-Ru’ya Optics Center, Martyr Zaid Hameed Health Center, Noor al-Kawthar Dental Complex, Sumer Dental and Cosmetic Center, Dr. Mustafa Al-Saeedi’s Clinic, and Awinat al-Mustafa Optics. Many have waived consultation fees entirely or provided services at 50% discounts.

“Medicine is a humanitarian profession based on compassion and giving,” dermatologist Dr. Ahmed al-Jaberi told 964media. “That’s why during times of solidarity, like Ramadan and the days of Muharram, we provide consultations and exams free of charge.”

Al-Jaberi said the initiative, held in coordination with aid organizations, reflects a belief that healthcare is a universal right. “What we provide is a small part of our duty,” he said. “It’s a reflection of our belief that medical care is a right for all people, not just those who can afford it.”

Due to high demand, some clinics extended free services beyond Ashura. “We made this extension out of respect for people’s participation in the mourning rituals of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him. This effort is a way to draw closer to God and honor these sacred days,” he said.

Sumer Dental and Cosmetic Center deployed a mobile clinic offering free tests and discounts on procedures including root canals, composite fillings, crowns, veneers, implants, and orthodontics.

“We also dedicated special discounts to the families of martyrs and orphans,” said Ahmed Saleh, a coordinator at the center. “The initiative began on the first day of Muharram and will continue through the end of the month.”

At the Martyr Zaid Hameed Charitable Health Center, free diagnostic services are being offered using modern equipment such as ultrasound, ECG, and eye exam devices.

“Our center opened its doors for free consultations and diagnostics,” said the center’s director, Dhafir Hameed. “The initiative runs from the first of Muharram until the tenth and is our way of giving back to the people of Souq al-Shouyokh.”