Syria has been in the midst of a civil war since 2011, leading to significant humanitarian crises, displacement and destruction of infrastructure. The millions of Syrians who have been internally displaced have placed a strain on resources and services.
The many challenges and hardship associated with the Syrian conflict have severely strained the healthcare system, causing infrastructure damage, shortages of medical supplies, outbreaks of disease and increase demand for mental health services. May communities are not able to access basic medical services.
Rural Damascus, specifically Misraba town, was deeply affected during the crisis, leaving both host communities and IDPs without access to the basic medical services they desperately need.
On April 2020, Baraa Al-Khouli was born in Misraba, Rural Damascus.
She soon began to experience seizures, which caused her to suddenly lose consciousness. The seizures grew more frequent as the weeks went by, influencing the child’s future.
Every seizure meant a possibility of bodily injury due to falls and other risks. She also began to exhibit other symptoms, such as weight loss and decreased appetite, which were clear indicators of the impact of her medical condition on her development.
To help deliver health-related services to those in need in Misraba, International Medical Corps deployed a mobile medical team (MMT) to the town, supported by different donors, including the European Union.
Hope for Baraa came when Dr. Suha Knoozi, a pediatrician in International Medical Corps’ Mobile Medical Team 2 (MMT2) supported by ECHO visited Misraba and conducted a thorough clinical evaluation during Baraa’s first visit to the mobile clinic.
Dr. Suha discovered a symmetrical rise in tendon reflexes in each of the child’s four limbs, which led to a referral for a neurological assessment and comprehensive blood tests. An electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed unmistakable evidence of mild epileptic seizures.
The epilepsy diagnosis brought hope of a treatment plan. Dr. Suha prescribed an anticonvulsant medication, which marked the beginning of a road toward transformation and a break from the constant assault of seizures. The hold of the illness relaxed and enabled peace to return to the child’s existence.
Baraa is in good health now after recovering from the seizures that threatened her at all times. She and her parents move forward with newfound strength, encouraged by the knowledge that she has access to free medical care and medications.
