SYRIA
In a country where the infrastructure has suffered terribly from the war, where dozens of hospitals and clinics have been destroyed, and where economic sanctions prevent the maintenance of vital equipment, the health system is on the verge of collapse and is set to sink even deeper into crisis if nothing is done.
Today, the Al-Kalimeh hospital in Aleppo is unable to replace its surgical instruments sterilization machine. The machine, which is over 25 years old, regularly breaks down, preventing surgeons from carrying out operations in good conditions.
This is why SOS Chrétiens d’Orient has decided to replace this machine, which is essential for the good health of patients.
While the Covid-19 epidemic was on the rise in Syria, a representative of the Al-Kalimeh hospital in Aleppo called to ask me to come and see the dramatic situation they were facing.
So I went to the hospital where, at the entrance, a receptionist carefully checked that all visitors were wearing masks. Unusual practice in the rest of public places in Syria. The director welcomed me and explained the situation.
‘The coronavirus is not our biggest problem, even if the Covid-19 unit is full! The oxygen generator that SOS Chrétiens d’Orient gave us a few years ago is working well, and by buying a few extra oxygen bottles, we’re meeting the patients’ needs. But the hospital is in a bad way. Our radiology unit is no longer working very well, and we urgently need to replace the machine that sterilises the instruments used in surgery. It breaks down regularly, and each new operation poses a health risk for the patients.
The sadeness in his voice tears me up inside. As I leave, I can’t imagine leaving them in this situation, and I promise the director that we’ll do everything we can to help them.
As the Al-Kalimeh hospital is unable to carry out surgical operations in good conditions, it needs your help to finance the sterilisation machine for surgical instruments. Each new operation is a risk to patients’ health. We need to act now. Help us here to help them there.
Each new operation poses a health risk for the patients.
