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Day 18

A dose of insulin for an elderly Syrian refugee with diabetes

Diabetes does not have to be a death sentence Diabetes does not have to be a death sentence

A dose of insulin for an elderly Syrian refugee with diabetes
Day 18
Free medical care for elderly Syrian refugees

Barely any money to survive, poor accommodation and almost no medical care. This is how most Syrian refugees currently live in Lebanon. Older people who have fled from the neighboring country are particularly affected. Despite the precarious situation in Lebanon, they have often had to be left behind by younger family members because they do not have the strength to travel to Europe. In this emergency situation, many aid organizations are concentrating on treating acute illnesses, but there is also an urgent need to help chronically ill people. From a certain age, many people are dependent on medication every day. When they have to flee, they take their supplies with them - not sure when they will have access to new medication again. This is precisely what is highly problematic in Lebanon. The health system is overwhelmed due to the current refugee situation. Older people are often overlooked. HelpAge offers free medical care to old, chronically ill people in Lebanon. The fixed and mobile health centers reach many people who would otherwise be in mortal danger due to a lack of treatment.

Free medical care for elderly Syrian refugees
need
Medical care for elderly, chronically ill refugees in Lebanon.
activity
Mobile and fixed health centers provide free medical care for chronic diseases such as diabetes to elderly people in Lebanon.
Measurable performance
Every month, 1,885 chronically ill patients can be provided with adequate medication and treatment in basic health facilities.
Result
The health status of chronically ill refugees in Lebanon has improved significantly.
Systemically relevant impact
The mortality rate among elderly refugees is falling. The psychological well-being of these people has improved significantly.
background

Since 2015, Lebanon has been the country with the highest concentration of refugees per capita. There are 220 refugees for every 1,000 Lebanese. A total of 1.1 million (registered) refugees from Syria live in the small country and represent a major burden on existing resources and infrastructure. Due to the cuts in international aid to Lebanon and the focus of most humanitarian actors on acute medical care, control of infectious diseases and child health, the Lebanese population is also increasingly affected by the restrictions.

For older refugees suffering from chronic diseases, this means that they have no access to medication and treatment, which means that otherwise manageable illnesses such as diabetes quickly become life-threatening. Refugees in Lebanon are becoming increasingly impoverished. Income opportunities are lacking and reserves are depleted - around 70% lived below the poverty line (USD 3.84 per person/day) in 2015. Only 6% of Syrian households in Lebanon stated in an assessment (2015) that they could afford medical treatment costs. Chronic diseases are the main cause of death in Lebanon, accounting for 85% of cases.

Day 18 Day 18
The good deed

With the support of four local partners, HelpAge offers training for the clinic staff, which ultimately means that all processes meet the standards of the World Health Organization. To improve the doctors' work, they are provided with the right equipment and medication. Blood glucose meters and insulin are particularly difficult to obtain in Lebanon. HelpAge supplies this diabetes medication, among other things, and aims to continue to do so regularly until the end of 2018. In line with the renovation work in the health facilities, the pharmacies integrated into the clinics are also being renovated so that medication can be stored safely and hygienically.

AboutLebanon
Beirut
Beirut
Capital city
5 850 700
5 850 700
Population
11 157
11 157
Gross domestic product per capita per year
67
67
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

The country's name, "Lebanon", has remained unchanged for 4,000 years, making it the oldest in the world - it is mentioned 75 times in the Old Testament. It is the only country in the Arab world that does not have a desert.

About the organization and further information

organization

HelpAge Germany eV

Website

http://www.helpage.de/

Initiative for Transparent Civil Society

Further links