Homeland Wounded project constitutes an advanced vision of responsibility towards the wounded

During a press conference held at Damascus Officers Club, the joint committee of the “Homeland Wounded” project provided a briefing on achievements of the project over five years after its launch. The committee also highlighted the national role-played by the project in caring, supporting and empowering the personnel wounded in war operations of the Syrian Arab Army whether in terms of enhancing their sensory, motor and psychological capabilities or in terms of achieving their financial independence and enhancing their self-reliance.

Minister of Defense, General Mahmoud al-Shawa, said that this project was not just an emotional initiative or a reaction that accompanied the continuous increase in the number of casualties, but it was and still constitutes an advanced vision of responsibility towards the wounded and the necessity of caring for them. The project is a vision that stemmed mainly from the doctrine, culture and commitment of the Ministry of Defense towards its wounded personnel.

Director of the Military Medical Services Department, Major General Doctor Ammar Suleiman, shed light on the medical and health services  provided by the Department for the wounded, whether in terms of rehabilitation or treatment. This department is the body responsible for the medical aspect and health care for the wounded within the Homeland Wounded Project.

For his part, Director of Operations of the Homeland Wounded Project, Rashad Ali, stated that to improve the health, physical and psychological condition of the wounded, there was the Homeland Wounded sports course that was launched last August with the participation of 92 completely disabled patients. The project endeavors to open the door for some of the disabled for training or professionalism. The project has worked and is still working to achieve the financial independence of the wounded, both in terms of the economic project that was granted to more than 1,500 wounded people, or in terms of educational support at all levels of education, as 34% of the total disabled complete their education, including those who were wounded in postgraduate studies.

CEO of the Syrian Trust for Development Shadi Al-Alshi said: “The Syria Trust for Development believes in the ability of all Syrians to rise. This belief includes the homeland wounded personnel because they have the ability, energy and will to triumph over their disability caused by war injuries. So with the Ministry of Defense, the Syrian Trust, with its high values in caring for the wounded, was able to invest in the ability of the wounded person to achieve development and prosperity for himself and at the same time so that development would be a means and a tool to change his reality for the better.

The Syria Trust has developed its mission, principles, working methods and expertise to empower the wounded by creating sustainable job opportunities and activating social participation with them. The Syria Trust  supported the economic projects provided by the Homeland Wounded Project for training  and motivated and strengthened the capabilities of the wounded to complete their financial immunization, Al-Alshi added.

Major General Doctor Suleiman Suleiman confirmed that the physiotherapy service continues for the totally disabled and will not stop. It is provided to about a thousand wounded in all the Syrian governorates. Smart limbs are implanted for all amputees, but they differ in their level of intelligence according to the needs of the injured in their daily life.

Regarding making use of medical expertise and treatment in Russia, Major General Doctor Suleiman pointed out that the dispatch of the wounded for treatment in Russia is carried out by a decision of the Russian medical team, based on the criteria and capabilities of the Russian medical side and the identification of curable cases and treatment. He stressed that the paralyzed are not among these options because there is no treatment in Russia for these injuries, or anywhere in the world.

Inas Abdulakreem