Syria – PRCS branch in Syria is one of the Palestinian Society’s most active branches in the diaspora, providing services to Palestinian refugees as well as to numerous Syrians. The branch is directed by Dr. Atef Ibrahim. According to him, “approximately 400 thousand people benefit from the branch’s services which are humanity-driven and provided on an equal footing to both Syrians and Palestinians. About 500 employees and 600 volunteers work at PRCS hospitals and clinics in Syria including at its two flagship hospitals: Yafa hospital in Damascus and Bisan hospital in Homs”.
Over the past decades, the branch has played a major role in terms of providing services to refugees in the nine Palestinian refugee camps in Syria. This role has intensified with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Quite early on, we realized how serious this pandemic was. We prepared and equipped our hospitals and clinics with PPE, medicine, clothes and disinfectants. We also carried out awareness-raising campaigns and distributed 10 000 hygiene kits and educational brochures to 10 000 disadvantaged families. The branch disinfected refugee camps and allocated 6 phone lines for health-related advice and 4 other phone lines for psychosocial support. These lines work around the clock and are answered by doctors. The branch also organized vital campaigns to raise awareness about COVID-19 and used social media to disseminate messages to the local population", Dr. Ibrahim said.
“The pandemic made us even more careful and cautious than before: precautionary and safety measures are observed fully. Even though less people are seeking our medical services as a result of the pandemic, we never stopped our operations because we firmly believe in being there at all times for all those who need assistance”, Dr. Ibrahim added.
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