SANA traveled back to the Governmental Hospital of Seer Al Dinnieh (GHSD) amidst uplifting roads decorated by pearly almond trees in full bloom, so evidently awaiting the soon-to-arrive Spring...

The session started with the team sharing with SANA the tremendous advances that they have noted in their sonographic skills where amongst several normal cases in their daily practice, they securely ruled out a placenta previa in a bleeding 35 weeker, and where they also diagnosed an in utero demise on a lady in her 5th month.

Following that, a didactic session was presented by SANA which focused on fetal pathology affecting the CNS, skeletal system, face as well as the GI and GU tracts. Abnormal images were shown to the attendees who were asked to describe what they were seeing and to identify the abnormality and accompanying handouts were distributed.

Subsequently hands-on-scanning was carried out in the outpatient clinic where this time, SANA's trainer, Reem Abu-Rustum, sat to the side, with the trainees guiding each other and Reem confirming their findings and helping with any difficulties as needed.

And after a most rewarding day, SANA returned back with such pride at the tangible progress that was ever so clear today amidst the trainees of GHSD,and with much anticipation to next month’s concluding training sessions...

SANA traveled back to the heart of the Akkar Valley with the team of World Vision Akkar…

 

After an absence of 4 months from Qlaiaat, a large group of Qlaiaat’s folk was waiting for SANA at the Village Mosque, where many toddlers and young children with bright sparkly eyes were in attendance as well, many of whom eagerly posed to have their photos taken J

 

SANA started with a general educational session on health in general and diet in particular. Much time was dedicated to preventive medical measures and the importance of monthly breast exams and timely mammography for the early detection and successful treatment of breast cancer was discussed.

 

SANA then carried out sonographic evaluation and redated 25% of the mothers seen, most of whom were in months 3-6 representing both Lebanese as well as refugees. There was a beautiful pair of twins and mostly healthy fetuses which brightened everyone’s day.

 

SANA thanks Levant Alie Houses SAL for providing the nutritional supplements.

 

And after a rewarding day, plans were made for the next visit with World Vision Akkar, which shall be both a training and a medical mission, and SANA traveled back within the valley where the final markings of winter were noted to be undergoing the gentlest replacement by the earliest sign of spring in bright fields tainted by beautiful  flowers…

SANA had quite an intense day today with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). The day started off with a morning training session to the providers at MSF on all issues pertaining to family planning. Birth spacing has been noted to be a significant health concern among the refugees being seen at the MSF clinics were many of the mothers are currently on their second pregnancy whilst in Lebanon. This has direct effects on their health and well-being especially with many of them having no breaks between repetitive pregnancies and long periods of breastfeeding. As such all available methods were discussed, their advantages and disadvantages, and the importance of individualized method selection, based on patient needs as well as proper patient counseling were stressed in order to ensure compliance and success.

 

Subsequently, SANA’s team headed to Dar Al Zahra’ where a large number of expectant mothers were in attendance. All patients had a full evaluation, risk assessment in addition to sonographic evaluation to ascertain dates and fetal well-being. Again, there were many patients who were considered high risk: a patient on her 12^th pregnancy, a 42 year old who was found to have a baby with no heart beat in her 4^th month of pregnancy, another patient who was in need of a special procedure to her cervix (cerclage) to prevent recurrent preterm births and who was already in her fourth month of pregnancy, to name a few. Special arrangements were made in collaboration with the MSF for all those patients.

 

Nutritional supplements were provided for all patients by MSF today.

 

And after a long a most fruitful day, SANA headed back home with much gratification after this day and plans were made for next month’s mission with MSF.