Communities have easy access to healthcare with the help of mobile medical teams

In the heart of communities, where access to healthcare is a distant dream for many, dedicated medical professionals  have assembled to provide healthcare services to those who need it the most. Action Against Hunger, with Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF) funding, is supporting these mobile medical teams as part of the emergency response to the February 2023 earthquakes that struck Syria and Turkey. Each team is composed of a General Practitioner, midwife, counseling psychologist, nurse, and pharmacy technician. They cover three different areas, composed by numerous neighborhoods, most of which are informal settlements. These neighborhoods are home to individuals and families facing various healthcare challenges. The team provides medical services that extend beyond treatment, offering awareness, counseling, and screenings to the families.

For the majority of the people they serve, visiting medical centers is a big challenge. Their financial hardships make transportation costs and hospital bills burdens they cannot shoulder. But the presence of mobile clinics in their neighborhoods offers an aid that saves both money and time.

Any case of malnutrition or other medical concerns identified by the mobile clinic teams becomes a call to action. These cases are swiftly referred to the polyclinic where they can receive the necessary treatment and care. 

Kifah, a midwife member of the mobile medical teams © May Mahmoud for Action Against Hunger.

Kifah and Nahed are members of these teams. Each brings their unique expertise to the cause. Although being in separate teams, their objective remains the same: lending a helping hand to those in need. 

Kifah, a 54-year-old woman, is married and has three children. She has spent her career working as a midwife in the polyclinics, and joined the mobile medical team driven by her deep passion for her work. In this role, she continues to use her skills as a midwife, providing essential healthcare services to pregnant and lactating women.

Within the mobile clinic, Kifah offers valuable counseling and awareness sessions on topics like breastfeeding and family planning. Moreover, she plays a crucial role in checking up on diabetes patients, ensuring they receive the necessary care and support. 

Kifah offering counseling to women © May Mahmoud for Action Against Hunger.

Kifah takes great pride in being part of this mobile medical team, knowing that they are making a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals who desperately need medical attention. Her gratitude for the team's efforts is evident as she wishes good health and blessings upon those who are involved in this initiative, recognizing its invaluable contribution to the community's well-being. 

Nahed is a 45-year-old woman, dedicated to her role in managing malnutrition cases within the health directorate.  Despite living 32 kilometers away from the mobile clinic's location, transportation challenges have never affected her passion for her job.

Nahed, who manages malnutrition cases as part of a mobile medical team © May Mahmoud for Action Against Hunger.

Nahed's responsibilities within the mobile clinics include screening children under five for malnutrition and referring them to the polyclinic. She also conducts blood hemoglobin measurements, monitors blood sugar levels, and prescribes medications when necessary. Nahed finds great fulfillment in her work, especially when she refers a child with malnutrition for treatment. Detecting these cases early and ensuring they receive care is the most rewarding aspect of her job as she believes there is nothing better than saving a child's life. 

In Nahed's perspective, the presence of mobile teams in different neighborhoods is invaluable. It makes healthcare easily accessible for many people who come seeking treatment, often unsure of where else to go. 

Syrian patients receiving medical care from a mobile clinic supported by Action Against Hunger © May Mahmoud for Action Against Hunger.

Though their roles differ, Kifah and Nahed share a common dedication and passion that shine through in their commitment to improving the lives of those they serve.