- Title: Syrian clinic treats war wounded amid shortage of supplies
- Date: 29th September 2016
- Summary: HOULA, HOMS PROVINCE, SYRIA (SEPTEMBER 25, 2016) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) MOTORCYCLES PARKED OUTSIDE A PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC RACK CONTAINING EQUIPMENT USED FOR TREATMENT DUMBBELLS AND WEIGHTS ON THE RACK VARIOUS OF PHYSIOTHERAPIST, MOHAMMAD TAHER, ORGANIZING EQUIPMENT PATIENTS WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF THE PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC, RIYAD ALLOUSH, SAYING: "We decided to open up this clinic after noticing the needs of patients who were injured in air strikes during the war, or fell ill as a result of disease. We set up the clinic with very basic equipment, it is still in its early stages. The progress in developing the clinic is slow for a number of reasons, the most important of which are a lack of funds and the constant loss of electricity, which stops the production of equipment. The clinic is divided into morning and evening shifts. From the start of this year we have received 59 cases." VARIOUS OF PHYSIOTHERAPIST, MOHAMMAD TAHER, TREATING A PATIENT VARIOUS OF A PATIENT ON EXERCISE BIKE PATIENT, SAEED SULEIMAN, TRAINING WITH WEIGHTS SULEIMAN'S HAND HOOKED UP TO A MACHINE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PHYSIOTHERAPY PATIENT, SAEED SULEIMAN, SAYING: "I went to see a nerve specialist, and he told me you need to go to Homs, there is a hospital there. But I could not travel there, so I came here and thank God the man here is a good man, and he has experience, he was able to treat me. But they are missing equipment. Many are benefiting from their treatment, this is the only clinic in our village." PHYSIOTHERAPIST, MOHAMMAD TAHER, TREATING A PATIENT TAHER POURING OIL INTO HIS HAND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PHYSIOTHERAPIST, MOHAMMAD TAHER, SAYING: "Massage needs creams, gels, we do not have any of them. Instead we are resorting to using something primitive, oil. Thank god we are moving forward, but we still need equipment, we desperately need an ultrasound machine. A few days ago one of our infrared lights went out, this is used to heat up (areas of the body), it went out before Eid, and now we cannot replace it." TAHER WORKING WITH YOUNG GIRL YOUNG GIRL WALKING WITH THE HELP OF BARS VARIOUS OF TAHER TREATING A PATIENT'S LEGS TAHER OPERATING A MACHINE MORE OF TAHER WORKING WITH A PATIENT
- Embargoed: 14th October 2016 13:09
- Keywords: Syria war medical supplies aid Houla
- Location: HOULA, SYRIA
- City: HOULA, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00151M8ZMD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The harsh realities of Syria's six year war can be seen in a physiotherapy clinic in the Syrian town of Houla -- where many come to receive treatment for their war wounds.
The clinic, founded by Riyad Alloush, opened a year ago to meet the needs of the local population.
"We decided to open up this clinic after noticing the needs of patients who were injured in air strikes during the war, or fell ill as a result of disease. We set up the clinic with very basic equipment, it is still in its early stages. The progress in developing the clinic is slow for a number of reasons, the most important of which are a lack of funds and the constant loss of electricity, which stops the production of equipment. The clinic is divided into morning and evening shifts. From the start of this year we have received 59 cases,'' said Alloush, who is head of the practice.
The clinic is located in the province of Homs - the centre of the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which began as peaceful anti-government protests in 2011.
The city and the province have been under a tight siege by Syrian army and pro-government militias for years. Aside from several U.N. humanitarian deliveries, the authorities have blocked supplies of most food and aid into the quarter.
For wounded people living in the village, the clinic provided a much needed lifeline.
Patients say treatment sessions are helping them, in some cases literally, to get back on their feet.
One patient receiving treatment here is Saeed Suleiman, who said Alloush saved him from undertaking a dangerous and expensive trip to a hospital in Homs.
"I went to see a nerve specialist, and he told me you need to go to Homs, there is a hospital there. But I could not travel there, so I came here and thank God the man here is a good man, and he has experience, he was able to treat me. But they are missing equipment. Many are benefiting from their treatment, this is the only clinic in our village,'' he said.
The clinic is staffed with only two physiotherapists, who volunteer their time and expertise to help patients.
Limited supplies and difficulties in getting equipment force the therapists to resort to creative alternatives.
"Massage needs creams, gels, we do not have any of them. Instead we are resorting to using something primitive, oil. Thank god we are moving forward, but we still need equipment, we desperately need an ultrasound machine. A few days ago one of our infrared lights went out, this is used to heat up (areas of the body), it went out before Eid, and now we cannot replace it," said physiotherapist Mohammad Taher.
Treatment at the clinic is free of charge for all patients.
On Tuesday (September 27) the U.S. State Department said it was providing an additional $364 million in humanitarian assistance to help Syrians caught up in the country's civil war, bringing total U.S. humanitarian spending for Syria to about $5.9 billion.
Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Anne Richard, said the funding would help provide food, shelter, safe drinking water, medical care and other support for millions of Syrian refugees and the communities that host them.
The forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have launched a massive push against rebel-held areas of Aleppo, where some 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped. Intensive bombing has killed hundreds of people, many of whom died in buildings collapsed by bunker-buster bombs. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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