QRCS deploys medical convoy to Syria to perform specialised cardiac interventions, enhance healthcare sector capabilities
Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has launched a specialised medical campaign for Syria, entitled 'Endless Giving', aiming to perform more than 100 specialised cardiac catheterisation procedures for adults and children in Syria.A medical convoy comprised of leading consultants and experts is participating in the campaign, which is part of its ongoing humanitarian efforts to support the healthcare sector, provide high-quality treatment services to patients, train local medical personnel, transfer expertise, and enhance hospital preparedness.Another component of the project is capacity-building for local medical professionals, to help reduce mortality rates and complications associated with cardiology and orthopaedics, improve the quality of life for the patients requiring urgent medical interventions, and alleviate the mental and economic burdens on Syrian families, who often cannot afford such expensive procedures or have to travel abroad for treatment.During a tour of several Syrian hospitals, ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Syrian Arab Republic Khalifa bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the campaign was launched in co-operation between the State of Qatar and several healthcare institutions, including Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medicine. A specialised medical team is participating to perform these specialised procedures for adults and children. He noted that the team has already performed more than 60 procedures, and this number is expected to exceed the target. The campaign also includes practical and scientific training programs for Syrian medical staff.Al-Mahmoud emphasised the continuation of such initiatives, reflecting the deep fraternal cooperation between the two countries in the healthcare sector.For his part, Medical Convoys Program Co-ordinator at QRCS, Dr Izzedeen Gaafar, explained to QNA that the programme aims to perform cardiac catheterisation procedures directly for the most urgent cases, particularly complex procedures that were previously impossible to perform within Syria. This includes 50 procedures for children, as well as the diagnosis of hundreds of cases. He added that the programme also includes supporting hospitals with necessary medical equipment and supplies, in addition to training local staff, as part of a broader plan to develop the capabilities of the Syrian health sector. He noted that previous initiatives included providing medical supplies and medications to hospitals.In another statement to QNA, Director General of the National University Hospital in Damascus Dr Abdul Ghani al-Shalabi said that the Qatari initiative provided significant support to patients. The medical team performed an average of six to eight procedures daily, including diagnostic and interventional catheterisations, in addition to emergency cases of heart attacks. He emphasised that the campaign contributed to saving the lives of many patients.Al-Shalabi pointed out that all operations and medical supplies were provided free of charge, which reduced the financial burden on patients, praising the humanitarian role of the State of Qatar in supporting the health sector and enhancing the quality of medical services provided.