On the occasion of Mother’s Day, which in Lebanon is celebrated on 21 March, the first day of Spring, SANA celebrated motherhood with the mothers-to-be, as well as their most dedicated caretakers, the midwives and nurses at the Governmental Hospital of Seer Al Dinnieh (GHSD)…

 

Hope was everywhere: from the intensely green brilliant fields, to the radiant smiles on the faces of all who received SANA’s wishes which came as pure white roses…

 

Today marked the last didactic session, completing the basic ultrasound training, given to the team at the GHSD. The focus was on the evaluation of the fetal heart and the basics of the first trimester scan. General handouts were given to the attendees, in addition to hard copies of  ISUOG’s Fetal Echo and First Trimester Guidelines.

 

Subsequent to that, all transferred to the outpatient clinics were SANA began grading and evaluating the trainees in preparation for their official completion of the Basic 6-Step Training in accordance with ISUOG Outreach Guidelines.

 

SANA was impressed at the comfort and level of skill exemplified by the trainees, and the support that they were providing one another, as they helped guide each other through the difficulties encountered.

 

And at the end of a long bountiful day, plans were made for the final session in the next few weeks, with the hopes of success for all the trainees…

 

And with that, SANA’s wishes a Happy Mother’s Day to all woman kind, the world over…

SANA carried out an educational/medical mission today with MSF. The day started at the MSF headquarters in Tripoli where a second group of MSF health care providers had a presentation by SANA on the importance of spaced child-birth, family planning, and the key constituents to proper method selection tailored to patients’ needs.

 

Subsequent to that SANA’s team headed to Dar Al Zahra’ in Abu-Samra. There, a number of Syrian refugees were seen. And what was most striking today about the mothers seen was the number of children they had had: all the mothers were age 19-33, however 83% were on pregnancy 4 or above. Another 45% had had a prior cesarean birth and 58% had had no prenatal care thus far.

 

The day started with a beautiful healthy set of twins at 20 weeks, and then there was a mother who has had 6 prior cesarean sections, who was only 26 years old. She was suspected of having a placenta previa on scan today. As such plans were made for her to undergo further follow up and care.  SANA also saw a mother who was at 17 weeks and presented with acute pain and was diagnosed with nephrolithiasis.

 

And after a long day, SANA headed back home having made plans for the next mission with MSF who are rapidly expanding their outreach all over the North with the mounting daily human needs…

SANA carried out an educational and medical mission today to Tal Hayat, in the heart of the Akkar Valley, in collaboration with World Vision International Akkar.

 

And from the moment that the team set out on the road, it seemed as if the theme of the mission was ‘unity’…United congregations of seagulls were seen hovering over the Mediterranean along the route, there were 45 representatives from 11 Akkar villages waiting to attend SANA’s educational session, and the patient group constituted of 25% Syrians to 75% Lebanese: unity everywhere…

 

SANA commenced today by a didactic session to 45 representatives from 11 Akkar villages who were all involved, one way or the other, in their communities with key roles in guidance: there were nurses, health dispensary workers and active community members who all listened attentively to the main constituents of proper prenatal care that are required to ensure the health of both mother and child. Informative pamphlets on proper nutrition were distributed courtesy of Mr. Dory Mansour. Much time was spent answering questions and clarifying culturally-imbedded myths…

 

Subsequently, routine prenatal care was provided to several new as well as previously seen mothers with sonograhic evaluation. Of note today was a very young groups of mothers were 30% were on their first pregnancy, a quarter had had no prenatal care thus far and two mothers were found to have proteinuria and further workup/follow-up was arranged for them…Prenatal supplements were made available courtesy of Mr. Dory Mansour.

 

And after a long rewarding day, future dates were set with World Vision Akkar and SANA travelled back alongside the old deserted railroad track that could tell a thousand tales of years and experiences gone by, ever so reminiscent of SANA’s memories and many tales of injustice, patience and endurance…