After last week's harshest winter storm, where snow fell at 300 meters above sea-level, SANA's team travelled up some 550 meters into the Akkar mountains for our first mission to the village of Aayoun. Our backdrop was magnificent: snow covered mountain-tops against endless green meadows signaling the struggle between the parting winter and soon-to-arrive spring...

Today's mission was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Hasan Chdeed's Medical Center in Aayoun.

SANA's team was so warmly met by the most able, organized staff and our anxiously awaiting pregnant mothers. And as has been our custom, we started with an educational session and then the individualized patient care was carried out.

SANA's team was accompanied by Ms. Layal Khalil, the local RN in charge, who commenced with the ABC's of obstetrical sonography: the key goals and signs to look for in a remote mountainous set up.

What was most notable about our group of patients today was their age where 40% were above the age of 35 and 30% were at least on their fourth pregnancy. In addition, 30% had had no prenatal care, 20% had had an in-utero fetal demise in the latter parts of a previous pregnancy and 30% had unknown or wrong dates.

Anemia remained the most serious medical problem that SANA's team encountered where 75% of the patients tested had significant anemia. All supplements today were made courtesy of Levant Alie Houses SAL.

And after another most successful mission, both teams felt that this should be the beginning of continued future missions, and SANA's gratified team descended back away from the glistening mountain tops......