COVID-19 IN SYRIA: The number of vaccine doses that were provided for northern Syria is incredibly low compared to the population.
My name is Noor Asidi, I studied nursing and midwifery. I currently work at Early Warning, Alert and Response Network (EWARN), where I take swabs and conduct COVID-19 tests.
First we prepare the testing devices and the necessary forms, then we start reaching out to isolation centers as well as individual patients who were showing symptoms but were not admitted to a healthcare center.
Noor Asidi at the COVID-19 testing center in Idlib / Abdullah Hammam
We health workers fighting COVID are in immediate danger, so we have to take all possible precautions. That’s why I put on all my protective gear before I begin taking swabs. After I take a swab from the patient, our team provides the patient with information about the virus, how it spreads, how they can isolate themselves, and we advise them to stay in isolation until the swab results come back. If the swab is positive, we tell them to self- isolate either at home, without coming in contact with anyone, or at one of the available isolation centers. We also explain to COVID-19 positive patients how important it is to wear a mask and take the prescribed medication.
Noor Asidi taking nose swab from a patient in Idlib / Abdullah Hammam
One of the biggest issues we face in northern Syria is the lack of oxygen supplies in the isolation centers. If an elderly person or someone with chronic illness comes to us, there would still be no possibility of admitting them into the center due to either the lack of doctors or the lack of enough oxygen.
What I think people can do is collaborate and work towards expanding the oxygen capacity that our isolation centers have. This could perhaps be done by providing small mobile oxygenating devices or by supporting oxygen-generating plant projects in the area.
The number of vaccine doses that were provided for northern Syria is incredibly low compared to the population.
When the vaccine was first announced, most people had their doubts about it, some people even refused to take it. Now, after we have seen the positive effects the vaccine has carried with it to other countries, and as studies keep confirming that the vaccines are created in accordance with WHO, we’re changing our minds and leaning more towards having the vaccine.
Personally, I took the first dose of the vaccine about four weeks ago, I didn’t get any of the side effects or symptoms that some people are spreading fear about. I plan on taking the second dose, of course, to achieve the best protection possible, and I do advise everyone to comply with their healthcare provider and take the vaccine if they’ve been advised to.
Photos credit: Abdullah Hammam