(Eqtsad)- The General Medical Board in the south of the capital Damascus warned that the only central hospital in the region Shahid al-Mihrab Hospital has no capacity to continue work in the absence of funds from medical organizations supporting the board which provide free medical services to the residents of Yilda and Babila Beyt Sahm and al-Qadam.
In addition the board cannot provide medical services to the residents of al-Hajar al-Aswad, Yarmouk Camp through several centers including Shahid al-Mihrab Hospital, the Women's and Obstetrics Center, two health centers, three medical points, a physiotherapy center, pharmacies and laboratories.
The media official in the General Medical Board Mohammad Abu al-Yusr spoke to Eqtsad about the situation of the medical sector in the south of the capital in light of the suspension of funding for the work of the Medical Board.
He said, "We are on the verge of disaster if funds cut continue for medical centers of the Medical Board in South of Damascus. The board has been operating since 2012 and continues until this moment, but the possibility of continuing work in medical centers is impossible without the necessary financial funding for these centers, the cost of insurance of medical materials and medicines and medical equipment in addition to fuel is huge. We were able to continue since the beginning of the year though in fact the funds stopped coming to the Medical Board since then. We have relied on the reserve stock in addition to two shipments of medical assistance provided by the United Nations, and the expansion of the rationing policy in the disbursement of medicines and the consumption of medical supplies. The aim is to continue for as long as possible and to treat patients in the area.”
Mohammad Abu al-Yusr added, "we continue to work until the last moment, but there are very limited resources, and the possibility of continuing work in the only central hospital in the area which provides emergency and surgical services is very limited. There are 400 patients coming in daily to the hospital including 4 Caesarean cases in addition to other emergency cases. There are about 150 thousand civilians are threatened with the loss of medical services as a result of the cessation of financial support for the Medical Board and are unable to receive treatment in private clinics and purchase medication because of their extreme poverty.”
Regarding halt of funds to the General Medical Board, Abu al-Yusr said there were no clear reasons, and the arguments put forward by the donors were baseless and unconvincing.
He added, "the medical board relies on funding its medical centers in the region on contracts with donors. The donors commit to funding the medical center r for a specified period and after the end of the contract, either the contract is renewed or another donor commits to funding the center. But for several months the donors have not renewed their contracts citing the difficulty of marketing these projects in addition to several unconvincing arguments.
Through Eqtsad platform, Mohammad Abu al-Yusr said, "I appeal to all medical and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately and to avoid a disaster because of the interruption of medical work in the area."
It is noteworthy that the tightening of financial support is not limited to the medical sector, but includes all the revolutionary institutions operating in the liberated areas including south of the capital where the region has recently witnessed a decline in relief work and a near halt to the work of local councils due to lack of funding. (Reporting by Yousef Omar)
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