HEALTH
Local and International Partnerships Deliver Medical Aid
Feb, 2021
Addressing shortages of vitamins, medicines and medical supplies in Lebanon
Responding to the medical and health crisis in Lebanon, Anera continues to directly support hospitals and primary health centers, all of which suffer from the remnants of the Beirut port explosion last August.
Working closely with the donor Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC), Anera organized a distribution of medical supplies to different Lebanese beneficiaries. HPIC is a charity organization facilitating access to healthcare and medicines for vulnerable communities across the globe.
This donation included a number of medical necessities, like antibiotics, vitamins and minerals. This also included medication for chronic illnesses like heart disease and respiratory illnesses.
Anera distributed the shipment of donated items to a number of medical clinics and hospitals across Lebanon that are now seeing shortages of medicines and medical supplies. All types of medicines have become scarce, expensive or completely unavailable on the Lebanese market, including medications used to treat cancer and chronic diseases.
Anera works with local organizations on improving health access to countless patients across the countries where we work. By doing so, we facilitate humanitarian responses and attend to the most desperate cases. Building long-term relationships with local organizations is vital to effective humanitarian response and reaching the most desperate. Amel Association International is one of our valued local partners. The humanitarian organization has been offering free medical services in Lebanon for 40 years to those in need, without regard for religion, sect or nationality.
“We thank Anera and HPIC for providing medicine to children suffering from malnutrition,” says Malak Khayami, who handles pharmacy and medical logistics for the Amel Association.
She says,
“Our organization is now overburdened by the high price of the dollar and the unfair bank policies and transfer restrictions. We face challenges in getting medicines for our patients.”
The donated medical items come at a vital time for the populations that need them. Thankfully, this donation from HPIC helps health centers like Amel Association restock their pharmacies and continue treating patients.
The Amel Association distributed the items among its 25 free medical centers across Lebanon.
Khayami says,
“We work with our partners, especially Anera, to provide free medicine for chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, run health awareness campaigns in local communities, and provide medical consultations and free PCR tests.”
To help ensure patients get the care they need during the pandemic, Amel Association has expanded their services to include mobile clinics that go directly to vulnerable communities. “This way we’re strengthening our relationship with the communities we serve,” she says.
