Daraa – Halim Muhammad

A number of residents in the town of Um Walad, the far eastern rural area of Daraa, have complained about the lack of medical and health services in the town.

Although there is a health center equipped with clinics, equipment, and a pharmacy, its services are not sufficient for the local population for several reasons, the most prominent being the absence of a dedicated medical staff.

Moreover, the ineffectiveness of the center places a financial burden on residents, as patients are forced to travel to nearby villages or to the city of Daraa, which is 45 kilometers from the town, or to the city of As-Suwayda, which is 20 kilometers away. Transportation costs can sometimes reach nearly 400,000 Syrian pounds.

Staff shortage

A nurse and a licensed midwife supervise the work at the health center in Um Walad, which has turned it into a medical point solely for vaccinations.

Nurse Wafa al-Rifa’i, who works at the center, told Enab Baladi that the staff shortage hinders the center’s operations, as it needs a general practitioner, a dentist, a nurse, a pharmacist, and a supporting staff member.

She added that the center currently provides free services to residents, such as routine vaccinations for children, in addition to a reproductive health program, elder care, and health education.

The nurse pointed out that the center could potentially include examinations and treatment, but the lack of staff deprives the residents of this service.

Fouad al-Rifa’i, the only doctor in the town who has a private clinic, told Enab Baladi that the condition of the Um Walad health center resembles that of most health centers in the province; it is a general problem, but it is more challenging for the town’s residents due to their distance from other health centers, leaving them without reasonable alternatives.

Transportation costs increase based on the distance of the medical point from the town, noting that travel to As-Suwayda province was previously expensive and fraught with security risks, especially kidnappings along the road connecting Daraa and As-Suwayda, according to the doctor.

Um Walad is located on the administrative border of As-Suwayda province, and it is the last village in Daraa on the eastern side.

The doctor mentioned to Enab Baladi that the issue could be resolved by sending a general practitioner and a dentist to work in the town, which falls under the responsibility of the country’s new administration.

He stated that most doctors migrated in recent years searching for better opportunities, while others with experience are contracted with private hospitals due to the low salaries in public jobs, which compel doctors to seek alternatives.

Transportation costs are burdensome

One of Muhammad al-Rifa’i’s relatives paid 400,000 Syrian pounds (26 dollars) for his transportation to Daraa hospital in an emergency case.

Dr. al-Rifa’i said that the lack of medical staff at the health center hampers his work, turning it into a routine administrative center devoid of medical services.

He added, “We urge the new government to support the center with medical staff, an ambulance, and medications for the empty pharmacy.”

On his part, the village chief Hilal al-Rifa’i told Enab Baladi that the health center is fully equipped but lacks specialized staff.

He added that transporting a patient often requires a private car, which is costly for residents in light of the deteriorating economic conditions.

The population of Um Walad currently stands at 5,000, with most residents having migrated from the village years ago; its previous population was estimated at 15,000.

The Director of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection in Daraa province, Adel Sayasneh, told Enab Baladi that the issue of fuel shortages, which represents a major obstacle for most sectors, is linked to supply provisions from Homs province.

The number of public hospitals in Daraa province is seven, while private hospitals number 13. The public hospitals lack support and suffer from a shortage of medical staff, especially after the migration of most doctors, with some contracting with private hospitals, which drives some residents to go directly to private hospitals due to the availability of equipment and staff there.