Chronic Diseases: A Significant Challenge for Everyday Health

In times of war, many medical facilities face immense challenges in providing adequate care, especially for chronic conditions such as thalassemia, hemophilia, leukemia, and kidney failure. Access to the necessary treatments, often involving blood transfusions or specialized therapies, has become a critical issue for affected populations. In Syria alone, it’s estimated that between 1.5 and 2 million individuals with these conditions have died since the conflict began, primarily due to a lack of proper medical care.

Rehabilitating the National Hospital of Raqqa: Essential Support for the Region

Since July 2020, Mehad has been actively involved in the rehabilitation of the National Hospital of Raqqa. This project includes the establishment of a testing laboratory, a radiology department, a thalassemia center, and a blood bank. The goal is to enhance access to essential care for patients with chronic illnesses in the region.

Blood Bank

For the Syrian population, accessing care for conditions that require blood transfusions or specialized treatments has become a significant burden, heightening the risk of serious complications. A rehabilitated blood bank plays a crucial role by supplying hospitals with various blood components, including red blood cells and plasma, each stored under specific conditions to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

Currently, over 930 donors contribute to the collection of approximately 1390 units of blood each month, providing a vital supply for hospitals in need.

Thalassemia

Thalassemia presents a range of severe symptoms, including extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, enlarged liver and spleen, bone deformities, and a heightened risk of infections. For the most severe cases, blood transfusions are crucial. Mehad evaluates the severity of each patient’s condition to ensure they receive the appropriate transfusions and specific treatments, such as chelation therapy, aimed at preventing severe anemia and organ damage caused by excess iron in the blood.

Our thalassemia program provides vital transfusions to 327 patients each year, including 280 children, with an average of 2.6 visits per patient. Among these, 226 patients also receive therapy to regulate their iron levels.

Dialysis

Mehad supports four dialysis units in northeastern Syria. In the hemodialysis unit in Kobani, an internal physician examines, diagnoses, and treats patients with kidney failure. Three trained nurses manage both scheduled and emergency dialysis sessions following established standard operating procedures.

To minimize complications and reduce mortality rates during dialysis, Mehad has implemented infection prevention and control measures. These procedures enable staff across all four units to effectively manage sessions. Additionally, personalized monitoring helps prevent hypertension, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease in hemodialysis patients, allowing for timely treatment adjustments when necessary.

Each year, we conduct over 12785 dialysis sessions for 334 patients.