“When I was 40 years old, I was diagnosed with diabetes, and because I didn’t receive the proper treatment, doctors started amputating my toes one by one till I lost both of my legs.”
That's what happened to 75-year-old Khairiyah, who has been living at Dar Al Ajaza, an elderly home in Beirut, Lebanon for five years now.
Her son decided it was time for his mother to rest in a place where she could receive good medical attention. Despite her health issues, Khairiyah used to care for her sick husband and three children, two of whom were also ill. But, Khairiyah lacked proper care herself. She started to lose her eyesight and, facing amputation, she could no longer move around without help.
Khairiyah misses her home and children but says she has found a new family at the elderly home among other diabetes patients in Lebanon. “My son only visits me once a month because he is so busy with his children, but here I found a new family and they are watching over me.”
Fortunately for Khairiyah and other patients living with diabetes, Anera has supplied the Dar Al Ajaza with a large quantity of Pioglitazone, which treats chronic diabetes. The medicines were generously donated by AmeriCares, a long-time partner of Anera’s In-Kind program.
Director Azzam Houri explains that Dar Al Ajaza welcomes some 600 geriatric patients, coordinating with the Lebanese Ministry of Health to cover 40% of the medical costs. The organization relies on donations of medical supplies to provide its patients with proper medical care.
“I cannot thank AmeriCares enough for their generous donation of medicines that we need every day for our patients to treat their chronic illnesses. The medicines are too expensive for us to purchase and hard to find in Lebanon,” Houri says.
Pharmacist Razan Doumiati says the free one-year supply of Pioglitazone means their resources can be used to provide Khairiyah and 15 other diabetes patients with better food and a proper diet for people with diabetes.
“We strive every day to improve the quality of life for our patients, thanks to our network of valued partners,” adds Lina Atat, Anera pharmacist in Beirut.
