Homs, (ST) – With the aim of providing medicine to the poorest and most needy patients, as well as promoting the positive role of youth towards their society, the National Union of Syrian Students branch at Al-Wadi International University in Homs launched an initiative to distribute the medicine free of charge in the Al-Adawiya neighborhood in Homs.
Dr. Bashir Elias, President of Al-Wadi International Private University, told SANA that this initiative is not the first for the Student Union branch at the university, as it was preceded by an initiative to distribute clothes to the needy in Homs.
He pointed out the importance of these initiatives in linking the university to the community by providing the requirements of certain segments of society, whose economic conditions prevent them from obtaining their basic needs.
Ghadeer Bashir, head of the Students’ Union branch at Al-Wadi University, indicated that the Student Union branch’s activities are divided into two parts, the first deals with student issues, while the second part engages with community responses.
Bashir went on to say that the donations for the initiative, which will be transferred to Tartous later on, have been collected from drug factories, warehouses, laboratory representatives and doctors, to be presented free of charge under a prescription to the needy. He stressed the importance of these initiatives in promoting the positive role of youth towards their society to alleviate the suffering of some needy segments, especially in light of the current economic conditions.
Dr. Majd Lyos, a human resources officer in a pharmaceutical company, said, “We would love to be part of this initiative that helps people who have difficulty securing medicines due to their high expense.”
Lyos stressed the importance of supporting these initiatives to include all chronic disease drugs, as patients have difficulty obtaining them, explaining that the currently available assortment within this initiative is good and includes all types of antihypertensive drugs, lipid depressants, neurological, orthopedic and digestive drugs.
Doctor, Ali Al-Ahmad (a volunteer), stressed the importance of these initiatives that contribute to alleviating the suffering of patients, especially in light of the lack of some types of medicines due to the unjust economic blockade imposed on Syria and the high cost of medicines.
He explained that there was coordination with the Al-Basel Specialized Center in Karm Al Lawz to give prescriptions to those who do not have prescriptions in order to increase the number of beneficiaries of this initiative.
About 70 university students in addition to 20 volunteering doctors and pharmacists participate in the 2-day initiative.
Amal Farhat