3-Fragen-an

‘Our partnership with GIZ is vital for the people of Syria’

Daher Zedan, Country Director of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), explains how the healthcare organisation is establishing reliable healthcare in Syria despite the difficult conditions.

What is the healthcare organisation UOSSM doing in Syria?

We are providing healthcare services, improving medical education and reforming the healthcare system in north-west Syria. Specifically, we provide healthcare at three levels – primary, secondary and tertiary – as well as specialised mental health protection and nutrition services. We also focus on improving medical education and building capacities in the medical field and in governance systems. In total, we operate seven specialist hospitals, 70 ambulances with staff and 33 health facilities, including primary healthcare centres, specialised facilities such as blood banks, urology and thalassemia centres, and medical residency programmes.

How many people has UOSSM provided medical care for in Syria so far?

In the past few years, we have provided 5.3 million healthcare services, reaching 1.2 million people. Two thirds of these services were supported by GIZ. These are our numbers for north-west Syria. Following the liberation of Syria, many patients are also coming to us from other areas, such as Homs and Hama, because we have a good healthcare system. Our actions have a far-reaching impact – not only on health security in Syria but also worldwide. During the coronavirus pandemic, for example, we implemented many projects with GIZ to curb the spread of the virus. This included distributing hygiene kits and setting up isolation stations to provide the best possible help to local people.

Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM)

The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) was founded in 2012 by Syrian doctors in the diaspora as a humanitarian healthcare organisation. It has offices in eight countries. During the Syrian war and up to the present day, it has handled its operations in Syria from the Turkish border. GIZ has been providing significant support to UOSSM since 2018.

Daher Zedan studied pharmacy and business administration in Jordan and Turkey. With over ten years of experience in the fields of health, education and social services, he has extensive knowledge of humanitarian aid and disaster management. As Country Director, he has been managing all UOSSM projects in Syria since 2016.

Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM)

How important is the partnership with GIZ for UOSSM?

This partnership is vital for us. Let me give you some examples: GIZ supports the largest dialysis centre in Idlib, which covers 25 to 35 per cent of the treatment needs in north-western Syria. Without this support, people would die, because dialysis patients cannot wait long for treatment. GIZ also supports the transport and referral system. During the earthquake exactly two years ago, we were able to transport 1,200 injured people with GIZ in the first 24 hours. And the Syrian people have not forgotten the support from Germany. We hope to continue the partnership until we have established a sustainable health system that works without international support and funding.