Reports | 25 05 2020
Ayman Bakour- Gaziantep The number of Syrian patients and causalities treated in Turkish hospitals has reached a substantial number recently. This emerging situation made both Syrian doctors and activists aware of the necessity to establish special medical centres for Syrians whether those living in Turkey or those coming from Syria for a treatment of a medical condition or injury.
Dr. Salah al-Safadi told us that at the beginning they used to help Syrian patients through providing interpreters to facilitate communication between the patients and Turkish doctors. They started with two volunteering interpreters, and later evolved into a foundation with three medical centres in Gaziantep, Nizip and Kilis. The foundation is funded and run by al-Tawhid Brigade, one of the largest opposition armed groups in Aleppo governorate. Dr. al-Safadi explained that Syrian patients are going to Turkey because the regime forces are systematically targeting medical centres and hospitals in the rebel-controlled areas. He added that the foundation has treated more than 1500 patients so far.
We met one of their Syrian patients who was shot in Syria. He came to Turkey because the Syrian Red Crescent was not able to treat him; "later, after I checked in the hospital in Gaziantep, activists from the Tawhid brigade visited me, they brought along an interpreter. They were there for me during my whole stay in the hospital, they even sent a doctor to be with me during my surgery." After his surgery, he was transferred to the foundation centre in Gaziantep where they took care of him, and even gave him money to cover his expenses during the treatment period.