Embracing a pain-free life

“Tariq is fifteen years old now. Doctors say we have to buy a blood sugar meter to monitor his health condition. However, we don’t have money to buy it, and we only know that his sugar has risen when he faints.” Hani explained his son’s health conditions to Moataz from the Medair team.  

The Syrian crisis continues. It has until now lasted as long as World War I and World War II combined and has left two-thirds of the country’s population in need of humanitarian assistance. In most cases, individuals in critical need or those facing extreme hardship are the people who are hard to reach. Medair endeavours to reach out to those people and provide them with support in many different sectors.

Some years ago, in one of the clinics in Bustan Al Qasr area in Aleppo City, Nisreen, 39 years old, and Hani, 45, were anxiously listening to the doctor. The doctor was discussing the health status of their four-year-old child, Tariq.  

The doctor stated that Tariq was diagnosed with diabetes at birth, which affected his liver and resulted in liver fibrosis. Once they recovered from the shock, Nisreen and Hani started medical treatment for their loved child.

Tariq stayed in the hospital for a couple of weeks. "His situation is serious and needs continuous medical monitoring, as well as regular hospital visits. Diabetes also impacts the functioning of his lungs, potentially resulting in breathing difficulties,” said the doctor.

Because of the expensive treatment costs, Tariq’s parents had to sell their home in the Bustan Al Qasr area in Aleppo to cover part of the treatment’s expenses. Hani tried to borrow money from relatives and neighbours.  

Year after year, Tariq needed more attention. There was no improvement in his health conditions, and the diabetes affected other organs. Recently, Tariq’s belly started to swell due to the retention of liquids in his body.  

Medair community health workers were passing through the street in Bustan Al Qasr area in Aleppo City where Hani is working in a cars’ repair workshop with a daily wage. He saw them while they were making assessments and registering the people’s information. He came close and got a ray of hope when he heard that they support people in need.  

“Tariq is fifteen years old now. Doctors say we have to buy a blood sugar meter to monitor his health condition. However, we don’t have money to buy it, and we only know that his sugar has risen when he faints.” Hani explained his son’s health conditions to Moataz from the Medair team.  

Moataz wrote down all the needed information and promised Hani to call him and come for a visit soon.  

After three days, the Medair Cash team visited Hani in his rented house in Bustan Al Qasr. They distributed multiple-purpose cash assistance to the family to support them in paying for their son’s treatment.  

Knowing that there are attentive people who care for our son and us is sufficient for us. My wish is to see my son happy and leading a life free of pain,” says Hani receiving the multi-purpose cash assistance from Moataz from the Medair team.  

“I have some stomach issues; that’s why you see my belly is swollen,” said Tariq to the Medair team while tapping on his stomach with a smile.

Nisreen, Tariq’s mother, can’t hold herself back from crying. “Your money assistance is the last hope that we have before losing our son. Doctors say that he will not live long if he doesn’t get all the needed treatment,” she said out of tears.  

The generous support from the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC ) and Tearfund has enabled the Medair Cash team to reach 3508 individuals in Aleppo by the end of July 2023. Medair carries on the multi-purpose cash assistance distribution to reach those in the greatest need and increase their capacity.  

 Medair’s work in Syria is made possible by the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) and Tearfund and generous private donors like you.

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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