ZAATARI CAMP: Sharjah Media Corporation (SMC) has donated Dh3 million to The Big Heart Foundation Clinic at Zaatari Camp in Jordan which will help cover its operational processes for an entire year, it was announced on Monday.
The clinic is the largest facility providing medical and health care services to thousands of residents at Zaatari Camp, which is the temporary home to an estimated 80,000 refugees.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council and SMC had announced the donation to The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) — a Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide.
The donation will cover operational costs including laboratory tests, medication and medical equipment. It will enable the largest number of Syrian refugees to benefit from the clinic’s services, saving the lives of many who would otherwise not have been able to access treatment outside the camp. “The crisis of Syrian refugees is one of the most tragic human stories in modern history and is one that is relentlessly ongoing. The displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from their country, with the attendant suffering that this has entailed, has imposed huge challenges at all levels.” Shaikh Sultan said.
The donation, he added, was made in line with the international efforts of Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to support refugees and vulnerable people worldwide.
“Operating under the directives of its chairperson, Shaikha Jawaher, UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, TBHF clinic provides comprehensive primary health care services to refugees, particularly to children. Ever since it opened, it has received thousands of patients, providing them with premium health care services and medical consultancy,” he said.
TBHF clinic provides medical and health care services to 20,000 displaced persons, comprising primary health care to 14,400, reproductive health care to 3,000 and nutrition-related services to 2,600.
The donation came following a visit to the camp by a Sharjah delegation that encompassed officials from a number of government bodies and organisations.
The visit aimed to get a closer view of the efforts undertaken by the UAE to alleviate the suffering of Syrian refugees through the provision of help and support that aims to fulfil their essential needs, ensure their well-being and give them hope for a brighter future and erase the painful memories of the past and overcome today’s challenges.
During its visit to the camp, the SMC delegation had the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of TBHF Clinic’s services, including its laboratory and clinical tests, the treatment it provides to patients and the vaccinations it offers to children. The delegation was able to observe the clinic’s readiness to handle acute as well as chronic cases and commended the great efforts of its staff to alleviate the suffering and pain of patients.
They also toured the camp and visited the highest point there where Shaikh Sultan met a number of families and chatted with children to assess their needs and the services rendered to them by the TBHF Clinic. The delegation also visited the camp’s souq, known as the ‘Champs Elysees’ street where they learnt about types of trade, crafts and professions taken up by Syrian refugees living in the camp.
