Two health centres opened after several facilities impacted by more than a decade o

UNICEF with partners, reaching children and mothers with lifesaving nutrition and essential health services at two fixed health centres in Dara’a Albalad.

UNICEF
23 March 2022

The recent escalations in Dara’a, south Syria, have further disrupted the access of people to health and nutrition facilities, severely impacted by more than a decade of conflict in the country. With a lull in violence in Dara’a Albalad neighbourhoods of the governorate, UNICEF with partners, have been reaching children and mothers with lifesaving nutrition and essential health services at two fixed health centres.

Health worker taking the height of a child in a clinic
UNICEF/ Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
A health worker checks the height of Ismail, 4, as part of his health checkup at a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, south Syria. “I visit the clinic with my mom once a month. They check my height, weight, and measure my arm. When I grow up, I want to become a strong man like my father,” he says.
Woman receiving nutritional supplement from the clinic
UNICEF/ Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
“My husband hasn’t been working during the past few months because of the escalations. This clinic is a blessing for most of the residents in the area,” says Fatmeh, 25, who came with her children Ismail, 4, and Joury, 3, to a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, south Syria. She is four-month pregnant and has benefitted from nutritional supplement as well as prescribed medicines provided by the centre.
Little girl sitting in a clinic bench after changing on her injured leg
UNICEF/ Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
“We come to the centre not only for treatment. Talking to the doctors here helps my daughter feel relieved, knowing her injury will heal soon,” says Diana, mother of Siwar, 6, after Siwar got her bandage changed at a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, south Syria. Siwar was injured during the recent violence escalations in Dara’a Albalad. “She is still traumatized by the incident,” adds her mother.
Doctor taking MUAK measure for a child
UNICEF/ Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
“I love my brother so much, and I feel responsible for him,” says Inas, 10, while she holds her younger brother Mohamed, 1, during his malnutrition screening in the children’s clinic at a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, south Syria. “We are in the clinic today with my father to ensure Mohammad is growing up in a healthy manner,” she adds.
Doctor checking a baby in a clinic
UNICEF/ Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
“Having this clinic nearby where we live is a great relief. Not only the children receive the needful healthcare here when they’re sick, the place also gives us back hope of a normal life after all that we’ve lived here,” says the father of Othman, 11 months, while his son receives a checkup at a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, south Syria.
Doctor taking MUAK measures of a little girl
UNICEF/ Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
Aisha, 4, gets her mid-upper arm circumference measured as part of her screening for malnutrition in the children’s clinic at a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, south Syria.
Doctor checking baby's ear in a clinic
UNICEF/ Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
Reem, 1, being examined by a physician at a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, south Syria. “I have been brining my children to the centre since last year for any health examinations they need. I trust the doctors hear and feel that my children are in good hands,” says Najat, Reem’s mother.
Doctor taking MUAK measures of a little girl
UNICEF/ Syria/2021/Abdulrahman Alkour
Joury 3, having her height checked at a UNICEF-supported health centre in Dara’a Albalad, south Syria. “I come to the centre every month to check on the health of my children and receive nutritional supplements they may need,” says Fatmeh, her mother. “Everything has become extremely expensive and that’s why we’re forced to eat very modest food.”

With thanks to a generous contribution from Russia, some 4,100 pregnant and lactating women and 7,200 children were screened for malnutrition, over 3,400 mothers and 1,400 children received preventive and curative nutritional supplements, some 4,100 pregnant and lactating women and more than 200 children benefitted from group awareness sessions and over 4,200 women from one-on-one individual awareness sessions on optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF). Also, some 20,500 children and 7,600 women were supported with primary healthcare outpatient consultations and referrals depending on their needs. “We don’t stop once we’ve found the problem. We continue looking in order to track potential causes and find solutions,” says Dr. Fadi Sweidan, a physician overseeing the medical teams in UNICEF-supported Dara’a Albalad health centres.