Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations

Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
Union des Organisations de Secours et Soins Médicaux
AbbreviationUOSSM
Formation2012
TypeNGO
PurposeHumanitarian Healthcare
International Chair
Ghanem Tayara
Websitehttps://www.uossm.org/

The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (usually known by the acronym of their French name Union des Organisations de Secours et Soins Médicaux, UOSSM[1]) is a humanitarian non-governmental organization that provides healthcare in rebel-held areas of North West Syria.[1][2]

History

UOSSM was founded by group of expatriate Syrian doctors in 2012[3] and later grew into an international organization.[4] As of 2015, it had an annual budget of USD$18 million.[1]

UOSSM has offices in eight countries,[1] including USA, Canada, and France.[3][5]

Medical activities

UOSSM provide free medical care and equipment to 113 Syrian healthcare facilities.[3][1] Services provided by UOSSM include primary health care, pediatrics, gynecology and reproductive health services, general and internal medicine, nutrition, community health, pharmacy, vaccinations,[6] and intensive care.[7]

Four UOSSM hospitals use telemedicine.[8] Since 2016, the organization has used 480 solar panels to partly (30% to 40%) power a hospital,[9][10] as well as an electric vehicle to deliver vaccines.[11]

Advocacy

In 2020, UOSSM called for more international support for healthcare organizations in Syria, and reported on COVID-19 cases overwhelming hospital facilities.[12]

In 2017 and 2018, the organization shared news of chemical gas attacks in Syria.[13][14]

Main article: Khan Shaykhun chemical attack
Main article: Douma chemical attack

In 2018, UOSSM called for the international community to provide food aid and shelter to Syrians.[15]

Hospital attacks

In 2016, four UOSSM staff were killed in Aleppo when airstrikes hit two ambulances.[16][4]

Eighty-five of their hospitals were attacked in 2020.[3] They have blamed Russian and Syrian government forces for attacks.[17][18]

Key people

  • Ghanem Tayara MD, Chair, UOSSM International[19]
  • Anas Al-Kassem MD, Founder, UOSSM Canada[1][2]
  • Ziad Alissa MD, director of UOSSM France[3][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Chowdhry, Affan (2015-12-23). "Canadian surgeon risks his life to help Syrians caught in civil war". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  2. ^ a b "Doctors should not be used as weapons of war: says Nott in Oakville". InsideHalton.com. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Lives Lost: Doctor chose to stay, work in war-torn Syria". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  4. ^ a b "Syria air raid kills four medical workers near Aleppo". the Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  5. ^ Cole, Diane (2019-06-03). "How To Do Brain Surgery In A War Zone". NPR. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  6. ^ "Nearly 83,000 Syrian people in Ariha experiencing severe shortages in medical sector". Enab Baladi. 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  7. ^ Giovannetti, Justin (2016-11-25). "Meet the Edmonton doctor saving lives in Syria". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  8. ^ "How webcams are helping Canadian doctors save lives in Syria". CTVNews. 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  9. ^ "Solar power for Syria". www.power-technology.com. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  10. ^ Brooks, Cholo. "Canadian medical aid group sets up solar powered hospital after years of work – Global News Network". Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  11. ^ "Ponen a prueba vehículo eléctrico para atención sanitaria en zonas de guerra". Forbes México (in Mexican Spanish). 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  12. ^ "The Latest: Rebel-held NW Syria facing unprecedented surge". The Independent. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  13. ^ "83 people, including 25 children, reportedly killed in Syria gas attack". NBC News. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  14. ^ "Dozens dead in 'one of worst chemical strikes in Syrian history'". Sky News. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  15. ^ "Flooding displaces thousands of refugees in northern Syria - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  16. ^ a b "Four Medics Killed in Strike on Clinic near Syria's Aleppo". Naharnet. September 21, 2016. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  17. ^ "Canadian-run hospital in Syria 'completely destroyed'". CTVNews. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  18. ^ "Health care in Syria 'weaponized' by gov't forces, Russian allies: report". CTVNews. 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  19. ^ "Airstrike destroys Syrian cave hospital built under 18 metres of solid rock". CBC. 1 Feb 2018.