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Photo gallery: WHO support helps Syrians seek treatment and recover from war-related injuries
17 May 2017 – Six years into the war in Syria, more than 300 000 people have been tragically killed and more than 1.5 million people injured. As the violence continues, a staggering 30 000 people sustain war-related injuries every month.
Overwhelming numbers of critically wounded patients, acute shortages of staff, and damaged or destroyed health facilities have strained functioning health facilities to the limit. With more than half of all public hospitals closed or only partially functioning, those that remain functional, especially in hard-to-reach and opposition-controlled areas, face shortages of life-saving medicines and surgical supplies.
People who have been injured as a result of the conflict have seen treatable injuries turn into permanent impairments that require long-term rehabilitation and care due to lack of functional and/or accessible health care facilities and acute shortages of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.
WHO reaches more people in need across Syria, thanks to the unwavering support of the European Commission
29 November 2016 – Aicha and her 5 children live in Jaramana, a small town on the outskirts of Damascus. Aicha fled the city of Deir-ez-Zor more than 2 years ago after the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant took over parts of the governorate. “I work in a small factory, making clothes for brides”, said Aicha, pointing to a picture of herself and her eldest daughter, 12-year-old Nariman. “However, I can barely make ends meet.”
Aicha’s situation dramatically worsened when Nariman was injured by a mortar that fell near her school. She was taken to a private hospital, but her mother could not afford to pay the bill. “I felt so powerless”, recalled Aicha. A nurse approached the despairing mother and explained that Al-Ihsan Charity would cover the cost of Nariman’s treatment. “I burst into tears, and told the nurse she was a gift from God”, said Aicha.
Al-Ihsan Charity is one of 68 local nongovernmental organizations in Syria supported by WHO. Thus far in 2016, WHO’s NGO partners have delivered over 1.2 million medical treatments, conducted more than 93 600 outpatient consultations, and performed over 64 597 surgical interventions.
WHO is providing medicines, medical supplies and equipment to NGOs across Syria, including in hard-to-reach areas. With funds from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), WHO is helping these NGOs expand their operations and reach more people with medical care, including over 6 million who are displaced inside the country. “The solid support and commitment of the European Commission has enabled WHO to expand its partnership with local NGOs and reach more Syrians in need,” said Elizabeth Hoff, WHO’s Representative in Syria. “Our partnership with the European Commission is making a difference on the ground, helping the most vulnerable in this prolonged conflict”.
Since the onset of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the European Commission has donated more than US$ 36 million to WHO to support Syrians in need.
Thus far in 2016, WHO has provided over 9 million medical treatments throughout Syria, through both cross-line and cross-border deliveries. Over one third of these supplies were delivered to hard-to-reach and besieged areas. The Organization, along with United Nations partners and the Syria Arab Red Crescent (SARC), was able to reach all 18 besieged areas across Syria.
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European Commission’s European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
Syria reaches 2 million children in first ever deworming campaign
24 June 2016 – For the first time in Syria, a deworming campaign aimed at reducing the prevalence of soil-transmitted worm infection among school-age children has been conducted by the national health and education authorities, in collaboration with the World Health Organization.
The first phase of the campaign reached nearly 2 million school children aged 6–12 years with mebendazole. Children in the hard-to-reach areas and school drop-outs were reached through collaboration with local nongovernmental organizations.
The second phase of the campaign is scheduled for the next academic session across all governorates, including hard-to-reach areas through United Nations inter-agency convoys.
According to a 2009 study by the Syrian school health directorate, 50% of school children aged 6–12 years in Syria are affected by soil-transmitted worm infection which necessitated the nationwide campaign. Soil-transmitted worm infection produces a wide range of symptoms, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, general malaise and weakness. These cause chronic intestinal blood loss that result in anaemia.
WHO estimates that more than 880 million children are in need of treatment for these parasites globally. Control interventions are based on the periodic administration of antiparasitic medicines that expel parasitic worms among people at risk, supported by improvement in sanitation and health education.WHO recommends annual treatment in areas where prevalence rate of soil-transmitted worm infection is between 20% and 50%, and, a bi-annual treatment in areas with prevalence rates of over 50%.
