Like millions of Muslims around the world, Syrians are currently celebrating Ramadan, a month of fasting and spirituality. Every evening, families gather to break the fast and share moments together. However, for a large part of the Syrian population, this period is marked by a harsh reality : hunger.
After 13 years of conflict and the devastation caused by the earthquake in February 2023, 12.1 million people in Syria do not know where their next meal will come from. With a decrease in international aid, the situation is getting even worse. This year, a further 2.9 million people are likely to join the ranks of the hungry, bringing the total number to almost 70% of the Syrian population.
Programme to combat malnutrition: a comprehensive approach
For almost 10 years, Mehad has been developing a programme to combat malnutrition, with the aim of ensuring that every hospital and health centre in Syria has a prevention and treatment service tailored to its needs. The programme has several components:
-Raising awareness and early detection
Our health workers visit the worst-affected regions to raise families’ awareness of the dangers of malnutrition and detect cases as early as possible. They use a simple but effective tool: a bracelet to measure the brachial perimeter, an indicator of malnutrition.
-Medical care :
When a child or a pregnant or breast-feeding woman is diagnosed as malnourished, he or she receives immediate care. Our medical team monitors them closely for several weeks, providing care and regularly administering therapeutic products.
-Training local carers
All our carers are trained in the malnutrition treatment protocols recommended by the WHO and UNICEF. Thanks to this training, these protocols are now widely used throughout the country, ensuring that patients receive optimum care.
