Life-Saving Dialysis Services at Risk in War-Torn Idlib, Syria
Ayman al-Khayal, 43, relies on free dialysis treatments at Bab al-Hawa Hospital in Idlib, Syria, where he has been receiving care for nine years. However, the hospital faces closure by the end of September due to a funding crisis, jeopardizing healthcare for thousands of patients.
Funding Crisis Threatens Healthcare
With a decline in funding for medical services in Idlib, the closure of Bab al-Hawa Hospital could spell disaster for patients like al-Khayal. The hospital provides essential services, including dialysis and cancer treatments, to over 32,000 patients monthly.
As the September deadline looms, efforts to secure new donors have failed, leaving patients in limbo. The closure of Bab al-Hawa would exacerbate the already strained healthcare system, where many rely on free services for survival.
Challenges Ahead
Al-Khayal, paralyzed from a past injury, faces uncertain times as he worries about affording treatment elsewhere if the hospital closes. The dire situation in Idlib reflects the larger healthcare crisis in Syria, with numerous facilities at risk of shutting down due to lack of funding.
Health officials are scrambling to find solutions to keep vital services afloat but time is running out. Patients like al-Khayal and his family brace for an uncertain future, hoping for a lifeline to continue their critical medical treatments.