In response, WHO is supporting the rehabilitation of Al-Mouaddamiyeh’s main PHC centre. The work, which began in December 2017, is expected to be completed by mid-March 2018. Once the centre is up and running again, it will provide vaccination and dental services, antenatal care, treatments for people with chronic diseases, and other essential health care services.
Given the rising numbers of Syrians with mental health issues as a result of prolonged exposure to violence, WHO is training health care staff in the centre on how to diagnose and treat people with mental health disorders. In addition, WHO and UNICEF are supporting childhood vaccination efforts: thus far in 2018, more than 2600 children under 5 years of age in Al-Mouaddamiyeh have been vaccinated against the 11 diseases covered by Syria’s routine immunization programme*.
Lastly, WHO plans to enroll counsellors and teachers in Al-Mouaddamiyeh in the recently launched national school mental health programme, with a view to increasing their understanding of mental health issues and thus helping them to develop age-appropriate strategies to manage disruptive behaviour in schools and provide tailored counselling.
*In 2017, 100% of children were vaccinated against BCG, 84% were vaccinated against DPT-Hib3, 89% received MMR vaccine and OPV3 booster, and 75% received DPT-Hib4 booster.
