SANA carried out its first medical/educational mission today to Ain El Ziet in coordination with World Vision International, Akkar (WVI). Accompanying SANA was Dr. Ghina Mahmoud, a 4^th year Ob/Gyn resident at the Lebanese University.

SANA’s team met the World Vision International Team in Tal Hayat and from there they travelled along internal Akkar roads to Ain El Zeit. They were warmly greeted upon arrive to the new Municipality Building where a group of expectant moters and single girls were waiting for SANA’s team.

The meeting commenced with an educational session discussing all issues pertaining to reproductive health and ample time was dedicated to taking questions from the attendees. SANA’s team handed out basic guidelines to the attendees pertaining to daily feminine care.

Subsequently, detailed prenatal evaluation was carried out after our “exam” room was all set up: it was a mattress on the floor and SANA’s dedicated team carried all scans cross-legged on the floor! Nothing could stop Dr. Ghina as she scanned all patients and demonstrated her readiness for certification having fulfilled all ISUOG requirements. She skillfully scanned the patients who were all in their 20’s and they were in the 3^rd to 8^th month of pregnancy. All had 1-2 babies at home.

SANA wishes to thank Levant Alie Houses SAL and Mr. Dory Mansour for providing all the supplements today.

At the end of another rewarding day,  SANA’s team head back home aand plans were made for the next visit to the Akkar valley…

On a beautiful Spring day, SANA’s team headed to the glorious Dinnieh Mountains, to Kfaribnine. Accompanying SANA today, on her 4^th trip, was Dr. Ghina Mahmoud, a fourth year Ob/Gyn resident at the Lebanese University.

The trip was filled with beautiful scenary of endless green, clear skies and bits of remaining snow on the mountain tops. The team arrived to the health department to find the patients all eagerly waiting in the hall way…

A general discussion with a question/answer session ensued on various matters pertaining to reproductive health and family planning. Subsequently, the patient were all evalualed in a systematic manner inclusive of screening for anemia and gestational diabetes. In addition, sonographic evaluation was carried out on all patients.  It was Dr. Ghina who skillfully scanned all patients and comfortably dated them, ascertained placental location and fetal well being. With her ever improving skill, today she was able to concentrate on optimizing the biometric palns, identify anatomy as well as carry out basic cardiac screening using the 4 chamber and 3 vessel views. She performed impeccably!

Today’s patients ranged in age between 25 to 35 years. Most were in the 3^rd to 9th month of pregnancy, 25% were  on their first pregnancy, 50% were on pregnancy 4 or more and 38% had had no prenatal care or a maximum of 1 prenatal visit thus far. SANA redated 12.5% of the patients seen.

SANA wishes to thank Mr. Abdulwahab Al Sayed for the organization today. SANA also wishes to thank Mr. Dory Mansour, Levant Alie Houses SAL and Ms. Hasna Mkary for providing all nutritional supplements today.

And at the end of a rewarding day, SANA made plans for the next visit to Kfaribnine and the team travelled down the intensely green valley and headed back home…