Medical crews bravely defeat death in Eastern Ghouta

By Omar Al Dimashqi; Translation by Yusra Ahmed

(Zaman Al Wasl)- As the Syrian revolution enters the fourth year, field hospitals, medical centers and medics have been a clear target for Syrian regime shelling.  

Dr. Nada Mahroos, from Tahrir medical centre, revealed that 6 people from medical staff were killed in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus last September, including 2 medical students.

Mahroos adds that medical services in al-Ghouta is extremely difficult, if not sort of impossibility, because of shortage of almost everything from medical staff, specialists, medication, rooms for special care and intensive care, and difficulties in replacing the used stuff.

Since the beginning of the peaceful demonstrations, regime in Syria considered participants as terrorists” and banned treating them, moreover, they were subject to arresting with the medical staff if they were taken to hospital, Mahroos said.

All that forced many doctors to secretly treat patients and wounded in their houses. “The punishment for a doctor caught treating a wounded “rebel” could reach to 20 years imprisonment under terrorism accusation”

The Doctor adds: “4 detainees from medical staff died under torture. Moreover, regime’s forces used to attack hospitals and operation rooms and arrest patients, before liberating Ghouta especially at Fridays’ demonstrations”

She mentioned that about 70% of hospitals and 83% of other health facilities are completely destroyed, while medication production fell down by 75% all that with siege and lack of access for medication and equipments risk ceasing the medical services.

Mahroos appeals the humanitarian and medical organizations to do their best to let mediation in Ghouta, as soon as possible. “After liberating Ghouta two years ago, regime withdrew its medical staff from all public hospital to areas under its control, leaving Ghouta’s people with no specialized medical staff, which led inexperienced and young people to work in the medical field and help in treating patients, like Mohammed, 14-years old, who works as nurse assistant for low wage in return to help his patents.

Mohammed appeals for Syrian doctors to be responsible for their country and come to help in Ghouta, because only small numbers of surgeons are available as most of them left the country.”

Commenting on the fact that children help in medical services, Mahroos said: “the medical forces in opposition-controlled areas has been deprived from specialist, either nurses or doctors, which led enthusiastic children or others with minimal experience to join the medical services”

She regrets the irresponsible attitude of doctors who left the country and turned the blind eye to what happens in Syria and to all appeals to come back and help in treating patients.

“it is shameful attitude of doctors to leave their humanitarian responsibility and run away, correlating their duties to political changes,” she concluded.