12 August 2021, Damascus, Syria – WHO welcomes a new donation from the Kuwait Fund For Arab Economic Development to support health care for all people in need in Syria. This new contribution of US$ 3 million comes at a critical time as the health system faces shortages in resources due to sanctions and is overwhelmed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kuwait has been a long-standing partner to WHO in our work to save the lives of the Syrian people. We are grateful for this generous contribution that has come as a major step towards reviving the availability of health care services to all people in need, and supports WHO’s commitment to alleviate the immense suffering of the Syrian people,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Syria.

Gaps in local production of medicines within Syria have left significant shortages in much needed essential medicines, especially for patients with chronic conditions. Noncommunicable diseases are now the highest cause of morbidity in Syria, accounting for 45% of all deaths in the country. This new funding will enable WHO to increase access of vulnerable people to life-saving treatment for noncommunicable diseases, including asthma and chronic pulmonary conditions, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney failure.

With this generous support, WHO will also continue strengthening the COVID-19 response, as well as support the national immunization programme in the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns targeting high-risk groups, including internally displaced people and host communities.

Part of the funds will also be used to purchase 5 fully equipped ambulances that will boost national efforts to strengthen the management of trauma cases, increase access to health care services, and facilitate transportation and referral of emergency cases among internally displaced people and host communities to the nearest health facility. As the crisis enters its eleventh year, 6.1 million people remain internally displaced and are at increased risk of infectious diseases due to limited access to safe water and sanitation, overcrowding and other risk factors. In Syria today, there are cases of epidemic-prone diseases like acute diarrhoea, leishmaniasis, and suspected hepatitis.

As of June 2021, only 47% of public hospitals are fully functioning, resulting in access to health services to millions being crippled. Shortages of trained health workers are very visible on the ground, as a result of more than a decade of war, and a declining economic situation.

“Syria is experiencing a protracted political and socioeconomic crisis that has resulted in a severe deterioration of living conditions. The scale, severity and complexity of humanitarian needs remain extensive. The health system has taken a devastating blow as a direct result of the crisis and aggravated by the sanctions coupled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Long-standing partners to WHO, such as the Government of Kuwait, help WHO ensure that health care services to all vulnerable Syrians continue uninterrupted, and help us fulfil our common vision of universal health coverage and health care for all by all,” added Dr Magtymova.

WHO is in the process of rehabilitating Daraa tuberculosis centre, planned for completion by the end of 202112 August 2021, Damascus, Syria – In response to ongoing conflict in Daraa, south Syria, WHO is working with the Ministry of Health and local health partners to respond to urgent health needs. 

“Escalating conflict in Daraa has resulted in significant population movement and increased health needs among an already vulnerable population. WHO has delivered essential supplies and is working with partners to make sure that urgently needed health services are being provided to all those who need them,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Syria.

On 2 August, WHO delivered more than 7.6 tons of essential medicines and supplies to Daraa National Hospital and Daraa Health Authority. The shipment includes surgical and trauma kits and medical supplies, intravenous fluids and anesthetics, which are enough to provide almost 88 000 treatment courses, as well as support 830 trauma cases. 

Together with Al-Nour Foundation, WHO is supporting a mobile clinic that provides diagnostic services, laboratory, and radiology referrals. Five WHO-supported mobile medical teams are providing health services for displaced people and communities, and WHO is planning to deploy an additional 2 mobile teams, as well as health experts to identify the health needs of people living in shelters. Six ambulances previously donated by WHO in 2020 and 2021 to Daraa Health Authority are on the ground supporting referral services.

New waves of displaced people seeking shelter in schools and mosques, coupled with a volatile security situation in areas such as Dara Al Balad are creating challenges to the health response in the area. Damage to the essential dialysis water tanks in Daraa National Hospital has led to the dialysis department being out of service. 

WHO is actively working to restore non-functional and partially functional health facilities to ensure continued access to health care by people in the area. With the generous support of a number of donors, WHO is in the process of rehabilitating 2 primary health care clinics, a tuberculosis centre, and Nawa National hospital – all planned for completion by the end of 2021. When fully functional, these facilities will provide essential health care services to an estimated 1.025 million people living in the Daraa governorate.

11 August 2021 – More than 355 500 total doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Syria as of 9 August as part of ongoing efforts to protect priority groups and control virus transmission. This includes 55 500 doses administered in northwest Syria and 19 354 doses administered in northeast Syria.

This coverage reflects less than 1% of the total population who have been vaccinated with one dose and 0.6% who are fully vaccinated, making Syria one of the countries with the lowest vaccine coverage globally.

“In line with WHO recommendations, Syria’s vaccination strategy aims to first reach people who are more at risk of serious illness if infected with COVID-19. WHO is working with national health authorities to regularly review and update Syria’s national plan to deploy vaccines and deliver them to identified target populations, taking into account anticipated limited supplies,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Syria.

Three main groups are prioritized for vaccination: health care workers, people over 55 years of age, and people with chronic diseases. Other priority groups included internally displaced people living in camps, prisoners, and teachers. In northwest Syria, vaccination teams are initially prioritizing health care workers as per the vaccination strategy. 

An additional 2.36 million doses of vaccines are expected to be delivered to Syria over several consecutive shipments in the coming months through the COVAX Facility, including 493 680 doses allocated for northwest Syria. This is a substantial increase in the supply of vaccines, but still not enough to reach the target 20% of the population planned to be vaccinated by end of 2021 as per the national vaccine deployment plan.

National health authorities are conducting trainings for different categories of service providers to cope with the expected surge in supply and demand for COVID-19 vaccines. In parallel, WHO is increasing knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 vaccines among health workers across the country through printed materials, face-to-face sessions, and community dialogues, with a special focus on health staff working in camps hosting internally displaced people in northeast Syria. 

To address vaccine hesitancy and increase demand, WHO is strategizing new means to reassure the public that the vaccine is both safe and crucial against the spread of COVID-19. WHO is working with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF to support a mass public information campaign planned to start in mid-August. The campaign aims to reach different groups such as the elderly, health workers, and students through community leaders, influencers, and online and off-line channels that address key issues, including side effects, the vaccine registration process, and correcting misinformation.

10 July 2021, Damascus – On World No Tobacco Day in late May, the Syrian Ministry of Health in coordination with WHO organized an exhibition of paintings and sketches by children under the theme of “Tobacco Kills”. The exhibition was organized within the context of the WHO campaign “Commit to Quit” and complemented by performances by children of short plays and educational songs, and displays that highlight the shattering consequences of tobacco products, in all forms, on health. A workshop for tobacco control programme coordinators was held prior to the event, and 2 additional workshops were conducted for media representatives on World No Tobacco Day.

Activities were designed with children, adolescents, adults, media and health professionals in mind, in a bid to raise awareness of the harm of tobacco and smoking and the importance of quitting within the community.

“We invite all to play their role by joining the WHO campaign and having a tobacco-free environment that gives people the facts, support and tools they need to quit tobacco,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative in Syria.

Syria has recently witnessed an increase in tobacco product consumption, particularly among youths. In response, WHO has supported an increase in the number of tobacco control clinics run by the Ministry of Health, from 13 in 2020 to 24 this year. “These clinics provide free medical advice, and psychological and medical support to smokers who decide to quit,” explains Dr Abeer Obid, Director of the Tobacco Control Programme at the Ministry of Health.

The “Tobacco Free School” initiative was launched in 2018 specifically for target youths. The initiative targeted 42 schools in several Syrian governorates. Other initiatives were launched, such as “Determination and Stability”, which targeted 10 000 young men and women at universities over a 2-month period. “Let the Change Start with You” campaign involving the youth in juvenile centres and orphanages; and “Peer Education” initiative influening smokers through their colleagues.

Smokers are more likely to contract COVID-19 than those who do not smoke. The virus also proves more fatal among smokers. These risks run parallel to an array of others, including the development of cancer, heart disease and respiratory illnesses. Tobacco kills more than 8 million people a year worldwide, 7 million of which are smokers and 1.2 million of which are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. 

WHO Syria Marking World No Tobacco Day 2021

Media contact

Gulalek Soltanova
External Relations/Communications Officer
WHO Syria Office
Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
+963 953 888 477