DEARBORN — Witnessing the suffering of refugees sometimes leaves one with a sense of powerlessness. The urge to do something is almost inevitable. Beyond the feelings and the rhetoric, Iraqi American pharmacist Nidhal Garmo has dedicated the past decade to bringing positive change to those withstanding war and displacement. 

Her latest project is to set up mobile clinics in Iraq.

Garmo comes from a typical immigrant background. She came here, got an education and opened her own business — Nidhal’s Pharmacy. 

Garmo has felt compassion and empathy for others’ pain since witnessing Palestinians’ suffering on television screens while she was a child in Iraq. 

The Chaldean American pharmacist and humanitarian was always eager to make a difference. 

“There are events we cannot control,” Garmo said. “But sometimes we are able to assist our fellow humans. And if we help one person, one child, it is better than nothing, better than not helping anyone at all.”

Garmo left Iraq for the United States in 1980, to remotely watch violence and setbacks unfold in her homeland:  the war with Iran, invasion of Kuwait, first Gulf War, the blockade, the U.S.-led invasion and worst of all, the rise of ISIS. 

“I have seen things that changed the course of my life,” she said. 

Although she has been charitable throughout her life, Garmo started actively pursuing humanitarian work in 2006, following her visit to Iraq. After seeing the dire need for medical supplies and the desolate state of Iraqi victims of violence at hospitals, she started making donations to World Medical Relief, an international non-profit based in Detroit.

Garmo said she spent all of her savings on medical supplies for Iraqis in 2006. 

She then started leading medical missions to hospitals in the northern Iraq Kurdistan province.

Over the past 10 years, she has been on 25 humanitarian trips to Iraq. Over the past two years, she expanded her focus from medical supplies to clothing and other
donations for refugees. 

For about eight years, Garmo privately funded her efforts; but now she is using social media to obtain additional help for her cause. She founded One World Medical Mission, a nonprofit to aid suffering people, with a focus on Iraq.

“I used to be embarrassed to ask people for money,” she said. “I put myself at a very high risk, financially. I didn’t work. I was traveling for my humanitarian work and I had to pay pharmacists to run my businesses.”

Garmo encouraged garnering a culture of giving in the Arab and Chaldean communities. She urged donating to noble causes instead of spending lavishly. 

“For $6,500, you can send a container of medical supplies to Iraq — that’s the price of two designer purses,” she said. “It could save 10,000 lives. My mentality is instead of spending money on expensive stuff, I’d rather assist people who need help.”

In Iraq, Garmo works with grassroots organizations to distribute the aid to the people who most need it. 

She has also been on a medical mission with the National Arab American Medical Association to Jordan, where she tended to displaced Syrians at the Zaatari refugee camp.

Garmo talked up the efficiency of her organization, saying that she always tries to save money by buying used aid supplies and equipment, like wheelchairs and crutches.

Asked about the numerous awards she has received, Garmo said they are irrelevant. 

“I am a servant to my people and all Arab people,” she said. “I don’t consider myself the head of an organization.”

Garmo criticized organizations that base aid on the religion and ethnicity of those in need. 

“Jesus didn’t say just help Christians,” she said. “All religions preach helping others.”

To donate to Garmo’s organization, go to www.owmm.org/