The current COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to increase the risk of infection of those with chronic illnesses and cancer patients as well. To alleviate the burden and aid those vulnerable in theses difficult times, Qatar Charity has set up projects in the cities of Gaziantep and Antakya in southern Turkey.

Qatar Charity has initiated two community health centres to host and care for cancer patients coming from Syria for cancer treatment due to the lack of treatment in northern Syria. The goal of this project is to alleviate the financial, psychological, and physical burden that cancer patients face.

Additionally, the health centre will be helping to receive these patients when they enter the border crossing and transfer them to hospitals, marking the start of their treatment that may last months or even years.

The Health centre will consist of professionals who provide their patients with the utmost care. Mohamed Zeno, a supervisor at one of the health centres, stated that patients at the hospital who undergo chemotherapy urgently require someone to assist and relieve them of the pain caused by it. Moreover, the effects and pain of the dose can last for at least two to three days, where the patient can suffer from various symptoms such as nausea, headache, and pain of many extremities.

The health care centres provide patients with all logistical, social, and psychological services and medical consultations and translation services in Turkish hospitals and secure all the requirements for a decent life. Medical cadres and psychological support specialists supervise the centres with long experience dealing with cancer patients who need distinctive and different care from other diseases.

An 18-year-old, Yousef, arrived at the health centre in Turkey as he suffered from bone cancer. The doctors were forced to amputate his right foot since the cancer spread. He stated that the centre’s family has now become his family, as he pledges to start helping those affected by cancer. These health centres are continuing to have a tremendous impact on the lives of those in both Syria and Turkey.

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