Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012 Oct;2(4):84-8.
doi: 10.4103/2231-0770.110738.

Evaluation of a short-term medical mission to Syrian refugee camps in Turkey

Affiliations

Evaluation of a short-term medical mission to Syrian refugee camps in Turkey

Nora Alghothani et al. Avicenna J Med. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Background: The escalating political and humanitarian crisis in Syria has left thousands detained, killed or displaced in neighboring countries. Given the permission and co-operation of the Turkish health authorities, a short-term medical mission to the Syrian refugee camps in the Hatay province was arranged.

Materials and methods: To assess this mission's impact and potential expansion to serve other more emergently inflicted areas both inside and outside the Syrian borders, an evaluation was conducted via survey questionnaire of participating physicians.

Results: While almost all respondents found the experience worthwhile and fulfilling, medical, social and educational challenges as well as possible solutions were outlined.

Conclusion: The use of several specified principles to further guide efforts towards providing service, education, relief, and awareness would result in greater effect, sustainability and growth of the mission.

Keywords: Medical mission; refugee camp; refugee health care.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Image 1
Image 1
Hatay syrian refugees camp
Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient population served
Image 2
Image 2
Camp encounter

References

    1. International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect. Crisis in Syria. [Last accessed on 2011-2012]. Available from: http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisis-in-syria .
    1. Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency Press Release (regarding humanitarian aid to Syrian citizens) [Last accessed on 2012 Nov]. Available from: http://reliefweb.int/report/turkey/today-republic-turkey-has-111890-syri... .
    1. Syrian American Medical Society. [Last accessed on 2012]. Available from: http://www.sams-usa.net .
    1. Maki J, Qualls M, White B, Kleefield S, Crone R. Health impact assessment and short-term medical missions: A methods study to evaluate quality of care. BMC Health Ser Res. 2008;8:121–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. The UN Refugee Agency Syrian Regional Refugee Response Information Sharing Portal. [Last accessed on 2012 Nov]. Available from: http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php .