Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Mehad was able to start an emergency mission in Lebanon. True to our commitment, we quickly set up actions in collaboration with local organisations and institutions to meet the growing challenge of access to healthcare. The situation on the ground is particularly alarming and requires an immediate response.
The humanitarian crisis is having a serious impact on the local population, particularly displaced persons and refugees, who urgently need support, particularly in terms of caring for the chronically ill, whose lives are directly threatened by the interruption of their treatment.
Pierre Catoire, our medical coordinator for Mehad, travelled to Lebanon, to the Chatila camp to be precise, with our partners from the local NGO Al-Shifaa to provide medical consultations. His findings were alarming.
Lives in danger because of lack of care
One of the patients we met was Laila, a 70-year-old woman suffering from diabetes, a tragic illustration of the reality of this crisis. She is already blind and is at risk of losing her kidneys because she cannot afford the insulin that is essential for her treatment. Unfortunately, she is not an isolated case.
Forced displacement and the impact of conflict have meant that many patients suffering from chronic illnesses have had to interrupt their treatment. For some, this is a life-threatening situation.
A tailored response: prioritising chronic diseases
In the face of this emergency, the care of chronically ill patients and access to essential medicines have become priorities for our work in Lebanon. We are working closely with local partners, in particular Dr Skoury and his team, whose work we have already mentioned, and whom we support financially, as well as with Al-Shifaa, a Lebanese medical NGO.
These actions are made possible thanks to your support. Together, we can continue to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.
