- Title: Syrian doctor nominated for UN refugee award
- Date: 18th September 2017
- Summary: JARAMANA, DAMASCUS, SYRIA (SEPTEMBER 12, 2017) (REUTERS) SIGNBOARDS ON EXTERIOR OF CLINIC/ SYRIAN INTERNIST, IHSAN EZEDEEN, WALKING INTO CLINIC EZEDEEN WALKING INTO WAITING ROOM, GREETING PATIENTS/ WALKING INTO OFFICE EZEDEEN PUTTING ON LAB COAT VARIOUS OF EZEDEEN TREATING WOMAN IN OFFICE EZEDEEN TALKING TO WOMAN EZEDEEN WRITING PRESCRIPTION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN INTERNIST, IHSAN EZEDEEN, SAYING: "First of all, I live in a poor area. We create a balance in a way that I do not need the money and they (patients) do not need to exert effort to find medical services, I get this amount of money. First it is sufficient for me and it does not create a burden on patients." VARIOUS OF SIGN READING (Arabic): "IHSAN EZEDEEN INTERNIST" VARIOUS OF PATIENTS WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PATIENT, RIMON MLAEB, SAYING: "It is not that he gets 50 lira, but you feel psychological relief when you enter the clinic. He is good in his examination and his morality. You are relieved." MAN GETTING ON DOCTORS TABLE, EZEDEEN STANDING BY VARIOUS OF EZEDEEN EXAMINING MAN PATIENTS WAITING VARIOUS OF PATIENT, ABDULKARIM AL-HUSSEIN, WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PATIENT, ABDULKARIM AL-HUSSEIN, SAYING: "First he does not get paid for his services and he treats the patients well." VARIOUS OF EZEDEEN TALKING ON PHONE EZEDEEN SORTING BOXES OF MEDICATION
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2017 11:39
- Keywords: Syrian doctor Father of the Poor Syria health Ihsan Izzedin UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Damascus suburb
- Location: DAMASCUS, SYRIA
- City: DAMASCUS, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA0016Z4IIXH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Syrian doctor Ihsan Ezedeen has earned epithets such as "the doctor of humanity" and "father of the poor" for his selfless services.
And he is among the five who were shortlisted for this year's UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.
Ezedeen missed out the prize, which was won on Monday (September 18) by Nigerian lawyer Zannah Mustapha for his help in securing the release of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.
The Nansen Refugee Award is bestowed by the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR), and the winner receives $150,000 to fund a project complementing their existing work.
Ezedeen has gained recognition for his work because he charges his patients a nominal amount of 10 U.S. cents as fees.
The 74 year-old doctor was born in Sweida, southern Syria and studied medicine at Damascus University. After graduating in 1968, he opened a clinic in Jaramanda to serve the community and treat the poor for a fee they could afford.
The symbolic fee gives dignity to the patients, allowing them to feel as though they are paying for a service.
Ezedeen says he sees nearly 150 patients a day, and the small fee helps him live reasonably. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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