Field hospitals of Aleppo suffer lack of fund, medical staff

By Zaman Staff; Translation by Yusra Ahmed

ALEPPO (Zaman Al Wasl)- Al-Shifa hospital, the first field hospital in Aleppo, suffers of significant lack of support, threatening of closure.

The Hospital was opened in July 2012, when the Free Syrian Army “FSA” entered Aleppo and controlled some neighborhoods. It was managed by Tawhid brigade in the beginning, then by the medical Union, to become independent later on. When it suffered of some difficulties, Doctors Across Continents adopt it, to leave it later, which caused major difficulties in funding and support.

Abo Munir, the manager, complained of the regrettable status the hospital had reached to, he referred that to lack of fund and support, as the hospital had not had a stable and long term funders, able to provide the hospital with essential requirements and medication.

“we are trying now to draw some fund from the Liberated Medical Union to help us keeping the hospital open” the director mentioned to Zaman Alwasl, and added that the Directorate of Health in Aleppo sometimes provided the hospital with minimum medication which were distributed for people.

In regard to the expected siege on the city of Aleppo in case the regime managed to do, Abo Munir confirmed that the medical staff emotionally ready for the siege and would defend Aleppo, but he wished that enough medication could be available before hand.

“There are serious disagreement within the medical bodies in Aleppo, and we wish that all the Liberated Medical Union, the Medical Council, the Ministry of Health get to unite on one plan for the benefit of all” the director added.

In the end, the director complained that some hospitals supported by international agencies and provide secure environment for work, with high salary, attracted many doctors who left working in Aleppo, which deprived the city form medical staff, and threatened, not only al-Shifa hospital of closure, but many with similar situation.