From the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Age International worked with our local partner the Syrian Expatriate Medical Association (SEMA), to help ensure older Syrian refugees living in the camps were reached with vital support and protected from the deadly virus.
The ongoing war resulted in hundreds of thousands of people in northwestern Syria being forced to leave their homes in 2019 alone. Many people were living in temporary shelters and inadequate conditions. Health services were fragile and disrupted, inadequately prepared to detect or respond to the crisis. Fighting in North West Syria continued to escalate, hampering the capacity and ability to respond to the pandemic.
Last year we partnered with the Syrian Expatriate Medical Association (SEMA), to prepare for the virus and help reduce its spread. Outreach workers in key areas and refugee camps raised awareness of the virus and infection prevention, to help delay the peak of the infection so that health systems were better able to cope when it comes.
Programme activities included supporting effective coordination with health authorities and other partners, preparing health facilities, providing training and PPE for healthcare staff and setting up additional medically equipped facilities to treat patients.
Additionally, a community awareness-raising campaign was run in mosques, community centres and other key public areas alongside an online awareness-raising campaign targeting health workers.
Outreach workers in refugee camps shared information on coronavirus and a campaign was run in mosques, community centres and other key public areas.
We supported health authorities, and other partners, to adapt and set up new health facilities for patients with COVID-19.
We provided training and PPE for healthcare staff so that they were equipped both physically and mentally for coronavirus.
Our partners in Syria, HelpAge International and SEMA, conducted a “Rapid Needs Assessment”, speaking to older people in northwest Syria, to understand how they were being affected by the pandemic and the restriction of movement in place there. The findings were worrying.
“I’m worried about the disease spreading to Northern Syria. We try to take precautions, but the water is not sterilized and transported through tanks filled with rust, and the camps are crowded with others who have had to leave their homes.”
Thanks to the DEC Coronavirus appeal, we were able to raise funds to provide the help older people told us they needed.
We continued to work with SEMA to enhance community engagement and prevent and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on older people including those with chronic illnesses, underlying health conditions and disabilities. The project was implemented in 17 camps of Northern Aleppo governorate and 40 camps of Idleb governorate.
Our initial support reached 10,000 older people across 57 camps, particularly those with chronic illnesses, underlying health conditions or disabilities, with clear and accessible information and advice.
Community Health Workers communicated the most up to date guidance to older people and conducted follow up visits. Banners and posters in the community were displayed with the appropriate prevention and protection measures that need to be taken.
Older people requiring additional support were identified, referred and provided transport to get to services. Some were also given psychological first aid. Those with additional psychological needs were referred to SEMA psychologists for specialist psychological support
We supported six health facilities, providing PPE to their triage and temporary isolation units. We also trained 30 heath staff on caring for, and communicating with, older people.
Hear how the pandemic has affected older people in Syria from older people and our colleagues on the ground.
