MANCHESTER, CT — For the first time in more than 15 years, Dr. M. Maher Suede, the chairman of Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s Department of Surgery and his wife, Manal Suede, the pharmacy clinical coordinator at ECHN, made a trip to their native Syria this April as part of a medical mission.
Since the end of civil war in January it’s now possible to fly directly into Syria, but after more than a decade of war, much help is needed to rebuild the country and its crippled healthcare system, they said.
The couple volunteers with Atlantic Humanitarian Relief, a nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering medical aid and humanitarian support to Syrians who were displaced due to the war. While Dr. Suede has completed other missions with AHR to refugee camps in neighboring Jordan this was the first opportunity for the Suedes to serve directly inside Syria. Each worked at separate sites — Manal in a clinic in the suburbs and Dr. Suede in the capital of Damascus.
“After over a decade of war, the healthcare infrastructure is devastated and the needs are tremendous,” Dr. Suede said.
The Suedes use their own time and financial resources to participate in humanitarian work. ECHN helps them raise awareness by helping publicize upcoming missions among their colleagues. In April, the Suedes also brought with them some medical supplies including, medications but it is nowhere near enough the meet the great need of the population.
“It’s a very humbling experience, said Manal Suede.
The couple plans to go on future missions, the next in October or November and are asking others to join the effort.
Atlantic Humanitarian Relief depends entirely on volunteer clinicians and public support. The organization is actively seeking physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare workers to participate in upcoming missions. Financial contributions also play a critical role in covering the costs for much needed medications, equipment, and supplies.