Nov, 2023
A medical aid program providing chronic medications shows that it's not just about saving lives, it's about restoring dignity and hope to those who need it most.
Standing proud and passing the test of time and hardship, with his rugged yet pristine clean white and red keffiyeh adorning his head, Ibrahim smiles. The 57-year-old Syrian father of 10 sons and daughters expresses his gratitude for the support he is receiving from CARMAH project.
CARMAH — كرامة or karamah in Arabic, meaning dignity — distributes essential chronic medications to more than fifty medical centers all over Lebanon. Funded by the U.S. Government, CARMAH directly addresses the financial dignity of people like Awad, allowing them to access basic medications so that they can focus on putting food on the table, or spending their retirement in relative comfort.
"What brings me comfort is that the people from Anera and the health center are decent and respectful, in every sense of the word. This makes me feel comfortable and dignified," Ibrahim says.
CARMAH’s support is not just about medications but also the assurance of those who have fallen on hard times.
"I can buy better food and other necessities."
CARMAH works on alleviating the financial strain on patients, offering a renewed sense of security. Leyla, a 72-year-old Lebanese widow from Tal Abbas, Akkar, recalls her life as a farmer, now constrained by age and chronic illnesses.
"I used to have to buy the medicines," she says. "But now since they are being provided for me through CARMAH, I can buy better food and other necessities."
Fariha, another widow who fled the horrors of war in Idleb, Syria to Lebanon, reflects on the relief CARMAH brings to her family:
"This project has saved us. Now I get to keep getting my necessary medications and feel more stable without draining my son and daughters' income."
CARMAH not only eases the indirect burden on patients who are dependent on their families, but also alleviates their emotional stress and leaves a breathing margin for their loved ones to support themselves and their children. It is important that projects such as CARMAH adhere to providing high quality medications in appropriate quantities.
Samir Bourhan, an experienced endocrinologist at Tanmiya Medical Center in Halba, Akkar, underlines the noticeable quality medications provided by CARMAH:
"I have observed a significant improvement in most of my patients who receive their medication from CARMAH, and that indicates the quality and correct group of designated medications being provided."
"I have observed a significant improvement in most of my patients who receive their medication from CARMAH."
The lead pharmacist at Saint Paul Medical Center in the village of Sheikh Taba in Akkar, Hala Bashour also commends the consistency of CARMAH’s support to local communities:
"CARMAH was the first initiative to provide our center with much-needed chronic medications with high quality, including some medications that are not provided by any other donor or organization."
The project's dedication to providing a diverse range of medications is a testament to its unwavering commitment to compassionate healthcare.
In Lebanon's challenging healthcare landscape, CARMAH is currently contributing to the health and wellbeing of more than 30,000 patients all over Lebanon. Since the beginning of the project in 2021 up until now, more than 28 million defined daily doses have been distributed to CARMAH-supported health centers.
The commitment and hard efforts of the CARMAH team, funded by the United States Government and implemented by Anera, shows that it's not just about saving lives, it's about restoring dignity and hope to those who need it most, towards a healthier and more prosperous community.
Ibrahim
Every dollar makes a difference.
Your donation can help people like Ibrahim live with dignity and hope while providing them with life-saving medical care. Every $1 can ship $115 worth of medical supplies to the communities that need it most.
Funding provided by the United States Government.
