UOSSM USA is a registered 501(c)(3) medical humanitarian organization, that provides medical relief, emergency lifesaving aid, and quality healthcare to those affected by crisis. UOSSM USA is dedicated to its mission and increases its impact by partnering with local communities and organizations world-wide and is non-political and non-sectarian in its mission…
UOSSM has played an integral role in the mental health and healthcare in the Syrian crisis. UOSSM established strategic initiatives early on in the crisis, working closely with local communities, the most vulnerable, particularly women & children, national and international organizations; providing quality healthcare services to millions of people in need…
Providing Dental Surgeries to Special Needs Children in Jordan
Families of special needs children in Jordan often find it difficult to provide their children with the dental care that they desperately need. Unfortunately, because of the challenges related to caring for children with special needs, some other basic health needs can get pushed aside. Even if the families are able to find dental care for their children with special needs, it can prove to be rather costly and out of reach. But as part of UOSSM USA’s Surgeries project, which aims to provide a variety of surgeries, free of charge, to refugee, needy, and other underserved families in Jordan, we recently identified three special needs children who needed costly dental services: Asma, a 5-year-old with Down Syndrome, from Jordan; Yousef, a 6-year-old with autism, from Gaza Strip who resides in Jordan; and Tala, a 10-year-old with Down Syndrome, from Jordan.
In November, we coordinated with the Director of Al-Hannan Hospital, Bassam Alzuobi, and Dr. Serena Abu Dayyeh to provide complete dental services in just one session to three special needs children, under full anesthesia.
All three children had multiple cavities and other dental problems but could not receive the dental treatment without complete anesthesia. Their families were so grateful and overjoyed seeing that their children’s pain was alleviated, and they could now eat pain-free! You can watch the heartwarming video here!
Thanks to these surgical missions, we were able to ultimately improve the health and overall wellbeing of those children who would not otherwise have the access or the means to these vital surgical operations/procedures.
Thanks to the support of donors like you, we are able to reach these families and provide them with the support services that they need!
Together we are saving lives and building hope.
One of Most Important Specialty Hospitals in Northwest Syria
UOSSM-supported Aqrabat Orthopedic and Reconstructive Surgery Specialty Hospital is widely considered one of the most important specialty hospitals in northwest Syria. The hospital provides specialty care, along with medical clinics, radiology, surgery, and emergency departments, and is in the vicinity of displacement camps in Atma, Qah, Aqrabat, and Kafrloseen, in addition to nearby cities and villages.
Each month, approximately 950 major surgeries and 700 minor surgeries are performed in the hospital.
During the last two days of 2022, UOSSM USA distributed 500 food baskets filled with food essentials to 500 families (~2,500 people) in Rukban Camp in southern Syria. Located on the border of southern Syria and Jordan, this makeshift camp has 12,000 displaced people, 80% of whom are children and women. More than half of those families are in dire need of food essentials. The food baskets will help protect the families from hunger and boost their immunity to help fight diseases. You can learn more about Rukban Camp here.
Supporting New Healthcare Center in Idlib
UOSSM is supporting a new healthcare center in Hafarsaja, Idlib, which will help reduce the gap in medical care in the area. The center includes clinics in general care, obstetrics, dental care, wound care, and a pharmacy. In addition, the center will have three community health teams and two psychosocial support workers.
In collaboration with Bareeq Education Center, UOSSM USA held an open house on Wednesday, December 7th from 10 am to 3 pm, as part of our participation in the #16Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (GBV) campaign. Several NGO partners were invited to participate in the event including Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), International Medical Corps (IMC), and Tamkeen. The event was led by women and attended by over 100 women and girls (ages 14-55), including Syrian refugees and host communities. It included several GBV awareness sessions led by our partners to include SAMS, DRC, Tamkeen, and IMC. The event also included a teen drawing session and a mini bazaar for women.
Girls and women walked away from the event understanding that they have the power to succeed…that they have the power to walk away from abuse…and that they know how to help others in abusive relationships. You can watch a video about the event here!
One afternoon, Ahmad and his brother were tending their flock of sheep. As they were herding the sheep, they ran into something that caught their attention. They picked it up to see what it was and began playing around with their new “toy” when suddenly it blew up in their hands. The “toy” was actually a shell from a previous bombing that had not exploded.
Both brothers were severely injured and taken to the hospital. Ahmad’s legs were broken and injured so severely that his bone was exposed., His brother was wounded in the abdomen. Both boys had to undergo surgery although their injuries were thankfully not life-threatening.
Ahmad’s brother made a full recovery, but Ahmad’s injuries were much more complicated. His left leg healed after surgery, but the bones on his right leg were injured extensively. Ahmad was referred to Aqrabat Hospital for specialized care. Ahmad had to undergo several specialty procedures for his complex injuries, including reconstructive surgery which useed skin grafts to cover the exposed bone. Then he had to have the Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) device (typically used for severe or slow healing wounds) in two different stages for two weeks to remove excess liquids.
The team at Aqrabat Hospital is still caring for Ahmad until he makes a full recovery.
Thanks to donors like YOU, children like Ahmad have access to these critical medical services.
Together, we are saving lives and building hope.
Edinburg, TX – As winter settles in bringing even more misery to the Syrian people, the looming threat of the failure to renew the United Nations Security Council Cross Border Resolution 2504 will put millions of lives in danger in northwest Syria. The vote is scheduled for January 10, 2023.
International funding has already decreased significantly in the region causing the loss of vital facilities, further adding to the suffering of over 4 million people at unprecedented levels. The spread of diseases and epidemics are an imminent threat if food and clean water deliveries are halted. Over 3 million people in the region are food insecure. Ongoing internal displacement continues to cause a rise in food and medical needs.
Winter continues to be the harshest time of year for displaced families. Last year, 30% of displacement camps were flooded by rain or snow.
According to the Syrian NGO Alliance (SNA), closing the border will lead to the closure of approximately 70 hospitals, over 180 health care centers, and over 80 mobile clinics that provide medical and primary health care services to over 4 million people in northwest Syria. This border crossing is considered a lifeline and is vital for millions in northwest Syria.
Dr. Khaula Sawah, President of UOSSM USA said, “Decisions on humanitarian aid should only be based on the extent of human need and suffering and not on politics. There are millions that will suffer if this lifeline is closed. We call on the international community to extend the resolution to ensure the most basic human needs, which is the bare minimum guaranteed by international laws. The resolution extension will ultimately save lives.”
UOSSM USA, in collaboration with Bareeq Education held an open house on Wednesday Dec. 7, part of our participation in the #16Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (GBV) campaign. Several NGOs were invited to participate in the even including Syrian American Medical Society – SAMS, Danish Refugee Council – DRC, International Medical Corps – IMC, and Tamkeen. The event, led by women and attended by women, included several GBV awareness sessions led by partners, UOSSM USA, SAMS, DRC, Tamkeen, and IMC. The event also included a teen drawing session, and a mini bazaar for women. The event lasted from 10 am – 3 pm and was attended by over 100 women and girls ages 14-55, including Syrian refugees and host communities.
Girls and women walked away from the event understanding that they have the power to succeed…they have the power to walk away from abuse…and they know how to help others in abusive relationships. You can click here to watch a video about the event!
Together, we are saving lives and building hope.
UOSSM USA Receives Federal Award!
We are excited to announce that UOSSM USA was awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of State to support educational enrichment integrated with psychosocial support services (PSS) to refugee and underserved children in Jordan! Working in collaboration with Bareeq Education and Development in Amman, this after-school program will assist 400 children in becoming better prepared to assimilate into local school systems.
UOSSM USA President, Dr. Khaula Sawah expressed, “We are honored to build upon our partnership with the Bareeq Center through this opportunity to continue enriching the education of children in Amman and providing the psychosocial support they so desperately need. Many of these children are Syrian refugees who have witnessed unimaginable atrocities, the loss of loved ones, displacement, and other traumatic experiences. Through this collaboration, we hope to empower these children to overcome their trauma. With the support of the U.S. Department of State, these children will not only receive equal access to education but also receive the nurturance they need to improve their overall wellbeing and contribute positively to our global society. Children are our future – they are our hope for a better tomorrow. We are very pleased to be a part of this transformational journey which will help them heal as they grow into adolescence and adulthood.”
The Spread of Cholera Continues in Northwest Syria
Cholera continues to spread in northwest Syria. As of October 31, at least 36 people have died from cholera in northern Syria since early September. The outbreak may be tied to unclean water from the Euphrates River which is used for drinking and watering crops (resulting in food contamination), and improper sewage among displacement camps.
UOSSM is responding with preventative measures for mild to moderate cases in northwest Syria to include the provision of:
Promoting Dialogue on World Mental Health Day
On World Mental Health Day (October 10), the UOSSM Psychiatric and Mental Illness Hospital in Sarmada organized an awareness-raising session on the importance of making mental health care accessible to everyone.
The various activities presented the severe effects of the conflict on the mental health of civilians. Through discussions, role-playing, and success stories, the life of someone with a mental illness was portrayed.
The event also included discussions and life experiences among the attendees and mental health workers, which deepened the importance of mental health and shed light on misconceptions about mental health and the importance of addressing the causes that lead to mental illness.
The training helps doctors handle and treat critical cases in hospitals, increasing the survival rate of patients with life-threatening diseases. Patients with life-threatening diseases often experience rapid deterioration of their health and unexpected side effects during treatment, which requires constant monitoring and immediate, and effective response by the medical staff.
This training is designed for internal medicine residents and family medicine residents who work in emergency and intensive care departments in hospitals that provide internal medicine services.
Even though parents are always fearful that something might happen to their child, it is important to allow them to experience things on their own. Being overly protective deprives a child of many opportunities to develop and grow. After completing the sessions, Ismael’s mother understood the importance of this and how to help him develop and grow in a positive way. She emphasized, “I gained so much knowledge from the program, I learned great ideas on creating fun activities and games with things we have around the house. I had no idea how effective these activities were for my child’s development!”
Thank you to our supporters who enable families like this to reach the programs they need, in such difficult circumstances, every single day.
Together, we continue to lives and build hope!
Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) boards and staff throughout the world condemn the attack in Istanbul that has killed at least six people and injured 81. The attack happened in busy Istiklal Street earlier Sunday afternoon. It is still unclear who carried out the attack.
UOSSM condemns all attacks on innocent civilians and stands in solidarity with the Turkish people and the Turkish government.
Dr. Ghanem Tayara, President of UOSSM International said, “Our hearts are with the victims and the families of this horrific attack. The attack happened in the middle of the day on a very busy street filled with families enjoying their Sunday. We stand in solidarity with the Turkish people and government who have stood by and supported Syrians through their darkest and most difficult times. Innocent civilians are never a target. We hope the Turkish government finds those responsible and brings them to justice.”
Another job opportunity with UOSSM. Click the link for more info. #UOSSM
Budgeting and Reporting Coordinator-Female Preferred
gelbasla.com
About UOSSM: Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations -UOSSM- is a union of humanitarian medical aid and relief, non-profit, non-governmental organizations. It was founded in January 2...
We combined our November/December Newsletter into one. Please click the link below to learn more about our activities and updates these past two months!
#UOSSM
November/December 2022 Newsletter - UOSSM USA
uossm.us
Providing Dental Surgeries to Special Needs Children in Jordan
#job Opportunity
The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations #UOSSM is looking for a
Program Coordinator
Gaziantep- Turkey
For more details, please follow the link below.
Program Coordinator-Female preferred
gelbasla.com
About UOSSM: Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations -UOSSM- is a union of humanitarian medical aid and relief, non-profit, non-governmental, organizations. It was founded in January...
On December 18, 2022, the community health team was visiting camps in Maarat Masreen. The team found 7 month old Abd Al Razzaq. They noticed he wasn't looking well. After evaluation and taking measurements with the MUAC bracelet, Abd Al Razzaq was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
The baby was immediately referred to the UOSSM Primary Health Care center in the area for appropriate treatment. From there, he was referred to the nutrition clinic where he was examined, measured, and provided with a treatment plan to improve his health and help him gain weight.
We are happy to report that since then, he is no longer severely malnourished. The MUAC bracelet measurement was 110 mm and is now 120 mm. Our team will continue to monitor the baby until he is completely healthy.
There are countless children like Abd Al Razzaq who are malnourished. Malnourishment can lead to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and weight loss, and if left untreated, malnutrition can cause physical or mental disability.
Your support ensures that these children get the vital health care they need to be healthy and safe.
Together, we are saving lives and building hope.
What an amazing initiative by our partners, مجموعة هذه حياتي التطوعية Hathi Hayati Volunteering Group, as they provide aid to displaced families with complete dignity! 🥰
You can support this initiative here: uossm.us/h-hayati/
#UOSSM #Syria #displacement #winter #hope
جزاكم الله خيراً وجعل كل ما تقدمونه في موازين حسناتكم يوم لا ينفع لا مال ولا بنون
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