Syria Crisis - Health Services for Vulnerable Communities in Lebanon - World Relief Canada 2017-2019

November 2016 – Lebanon continues to be dramatically affected by the crisis in neighbouring Syria. Lebanon is currently hosting over 1 million Syrian refugees adding to the existing Palestinian and Iraqi refugees thus making Lebanon the country with the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. This influx has caused an enduring strain on host communities and the country’s ability to provide a number of essential services such as health education water and housing. Conflict-affected households are becoming increasingly vulnerable as poverty and food insecurity levels are increasing. With GAC’s support World Relief Canada (WRC) is providing Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese access to primary healthcare and promoting positive health behaviour change. Project activities include: (1) providing routine immunizations and malnutrition screening to at-risk children; (2) training up to 15 health professionals on non-communicable diseases (NCD) developing an NCD case-management system and supporting up to 500 NCD patients in managing their disease; (3) improving ante-natal care post-natal care and reproductive health knowledge and services for up to 21 600 persons; (4) training SDC clinical staff on health management maternal and child health care and diagnosis and treatment of common diseases; (5) training up to 81 community health volunteers to deliver messaging on infant and young child feeding family planning immunizations vaccinations NCDs and other health topics; (6) conducting health awareness raising sessions for up to 343 000 beneficiaries; and (7) initiating regular women’s support groups to discuss key women and child health issues.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access for vulnerable Syrians and Lebanese particularly women and children to essential health services; (2) improved knowledge of medical professionals on identifying treating and managing NCD; (3) improved knowledge of the beneficiary population of key health issues; and (4) improved capacity of health services including staff and volunteers to provide quality health care. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or that are food insecure