A Tale of Community, Healthcare, and Hope

Nada is a Community Health Worker (CHW) in Al Ashara, Deir ez Zor, working with Medair.  

One day, as part of her daily house visits in Medair’s community health program, she arrived at the home of Doa'a, a little girl living in the rural village of Al Ashara.  On that very day, Doa’a had just turned ten months old.

When Nada first saw how small and thin Doa’a was, she immediately measured her mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), a standard method used by health workers to assess malnutrition. According to her Medair training, any measurement under 12.5 cm for children aged between six months and five years indicates malnutrition. Doa’a’s MUAC measured just 10 cm – signifying severe malnutrition.

“It seems my suspicions were right. The test confirmed that Doa’a had severe malnutrition. So, I asked Doa'a's mother, Waad, to take her to the Primary Health Center in Al Ashara as soon as possible,” Nada told Lubna, Medair’s Communication Officer. 

At the Primary Health Center, the doctor informed Waad that Doa’a weighed only five kilograms – far below the healthy minimum of eight kilograms for a ten-month-old.

Waad recounted her experience to Lubna: “I was so worried about my daughter and at the same time couldn't afford any medicine. However, the doctor gave me small packets of peanut-based therapeutic food, consisting of vitamins, minerals, nuts, and butter to help Doa’a recover. She instructed me to give her two packets every day, and return to the clinic within fifteen days for a follow-up,” she said. 

After two months of treatment and regular check-ups at the Primary Health Center, Doa’a was back on track.

“She now weighs 6.7 kilograms,” the doctor told Waad in their latest visit.  With a relieved smile, Waad expressed her gratitude: “Her face is glowing now and full of life. Thank you so much for alerting me to Doa'a's condition. I never would have known otherwise.”  

Thanks to your generous support, more children are recovering from malnutrition. Through this project, Medair rehabilitated Al Ashara Primary Health Center, provided it with furniture and medical equipment, distributed newborn and dignity kits, and trained community health workers to spread vital health messages, ensuring community members recognise common health risks and diseases. Doa'a will continue receiving treatment until she makes a full recovery. Meanwhile, Medair remains committed to reaching as many people in need as possible across Syria, offering life-saving healthcare and support.

Medair services in [Syria, absence of basic services, Al Ashara, rural Deir ez Zor] are funded by private donors.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.  

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