Dignity in Care: Health Access in Bekaa

“For families like ours, this place means survival” says Khadija, a Syrian community member.

In the quiet village of Taalabaya, located in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, a modest building hums with life and quiet urgency. This is the Al Ward Primary Health Centre—a lifeline for community members, refugees, and families, navigating both the pressures of the current crisis and an already strained healthcare system. For Khadija—a Syrian woman who fled the conflict with her family and has been struggling financially—the visit to the centre with her ill daughter was about more than medical treatment; it was about survival. “My five-year-old daughter Samira is sick, and our family can’t afford a private doctor. She’s had a high fever for days and consistently vomited. Medications that were recommended by an external source were not effective. She needs to see a doctor, and this centre is her only hope for treatment and medication,” she says, her voice steady but tired.

Medair-supported Al Ward Centre offers free consultations, medications, and specialized care—but for many, what makes the centre truly exceptional is the dignity with which care is delivered. “This centre isn’t just about free services,” Khadija explains. “It treats everyone with dignity—something money can’t buy.” Parents bring their children here, not just because they lack other options, but because they trust the people within the walls of the healthcare centre.”

Inside the centre, Roaa Abo Mansour, a health assistant with Medair, works with dedication to spread awareness about health, hygiene, and disease prevention. “We’re fighting misinformation and improving lives by spreading awareness,” Roaa says. “From personal hygiene to disease prevention, our efforts are reshaping the way people think about their health.” Amid crises, misinformation can cause harm. Roaa and her team visit homes, hold community sessions, and patiently answer questions—equipping people with the knowledge to protect themselves and their families. “In this centre, we’re not just treating individuals; we’re empowering entire communities,” she adds. The need for services has grown dramatically since the conflict.  

“In a community of 40,000 people with very few healthcare centres to begin with—all of which are currently under severe strain—this centre serves as a vital lifeline to meet overwhelming healthcare needs,” explains Rodayna, manager at the healthcare centre. Patient numbers have increased gradually in recent months. Services that were once offered weekly are now provided daily. “Many parents bring their children here for routine immunizations, often telling me the same thing — they simply can’t afford them anywhere else,” Rodayna says. “With Medair’s support, health care has become more accessible than before and medications that were once out of reach are now available for free.”

At the Medair supported Al Ward healthcare centre, every patient has a story. Every staff member has a purpose. And every corner of the center includes people with determination to serve. As Khadija reflects on her daughters visit, she sums it up in a few powerful words: “For families like ours, this place means survival.”

Funded by the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund (LHF), Medair is subsidizing the cost of 6,000 primary healthcare consultations throughout the project period, running from 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026 for all age groups, offering free routine immunizations, and ensuring timely access to medications for acute and chronic conditions. Through its work, Medair’s contributions and objectives align closely with Lebanon’s response plan health sector priorities, ensuring that immediate and sustained access to life-saving health interventions is available for vulnerable and affected populations.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organization.

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