Nayef: Medical aid Provided by International Organizations not up to Health Sector Needs

DAMASCUS,(ST)_ Minister of Health, Dr. Saad Naif stressed in a meeting yesterday, with head of Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC in Damascus Boris Michel, that medical aid provided by international organizations to Syria has not yet fulfilled demands resulted from the crisis and challenges faced by the health sector, under continued terrorist attacks of its institutions and the economic embargo imposed on Syria.

He said that the |ICRC, ” had promised to secure mobile clinics and ambulances, and some generic drugs to support medical services in Syria, but the promise has not been fulfilled yet.”

The called for further cooperation and coordination between the ICRC and the ministry to ensure access of services to all areas and to avoid duplication in the provision of aid, stressing the ministry is ready to provide all necessary facilities for the delivery of international aid to all areas, including ensuring the protection of volunteers working in this area.

For his part, Michel said that 90 percent of the ICRC assistance reached Syria  in 2013, expressing hope to provide facilities for a safe access to all areas of rural Damascus and Aleppo.

“We understand the enormous health needs of the Syrians, and will make every effort to provide necessary medical assistance,” Michel added, noting that the ICRC ‘s work in Syria in the next phase will include support for physical therapy and prosthetic services and the provision of dialysis and further support for primary health care services such as provision of chronic diseases medicines and support for mobile clinics.

He pointed out that the ICRC medical devices engineer will arrive in Syria in the mid of 2014 to contribute to the maintenance of medical devices in light of the difficulties faced by hospitals and health centers as a result of the economic blockade.

However, the Syrian government stressed earlier that the contributions of international organizations since the beginning of the crisis did not exceed 20 percent, while the Syrian government bears up to 80 percent of the humanitarian assistance needed for the affected areas.

T. Fateh