UNICEF Rehabilitates Two Hama Rural Health Centers

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Hama Health Directorate, has launched rehabilitation works at the Kafrnabuda and Maan health centers in northern rural Hama. The initiative aims to restore essential medical services to communities that experienced healthcare service shortages following years of conflict and displacement.

Project Scope and Beneficiaries

Rehabilitation of the Kafrnabuda Health Center involves rebuilding and equipping ten clinical rooms across various specialties, with a projected service capacity of approximately 50,000 people from Kafrnabuda and surrounding villages.

The Maan Health Center is undergoing full structural and interior restoration, with completion targeted by the end of May, after which it will serve more than 10,000 residents in the northern Hama countryside.

Current Healthcare Conditions

More than 3,400 families have returned to Kafrnabuda. The existing voluntary medical point lacks medication and monitoring for patients with chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Skin diseases, allergies, and cutaneous leishmaniasis are present, associated with accumulated debris and the absence of a functioning sewage system.

The nearest hospital, in the city of Suqaylabiyah, is located 20 kilometers away, which affects residents requiring urgent care.

Oversight and Funding

The project is jointly supervised by the Hama Health Directorate and a specialized studies firm contracted by UNICEF, which provides full funding for both centers. The directorate is responsible for quantities management and expenditure oversight.

According to the directorate's engineering department, delays in commencing works were attributable to administrative procedures with the organization rather than engineering obstacles or material shortages, though a limited labor supply in these remote areas posed some logistical difficulty.

Planned Services Upon Completion

Post-rehabilitation plans include recruiting new physicians and supplying both centers with medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and furnishings to enable a range of health services. The project forms part of a wider plan to rehabilitate health centers across rural Hama, with additional facilities in the Suqaylabiyah area, including the Zayzun center, scheduled for implementation in the near term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which health centers are being rehabilitated?

The project covers the Kafrnabuda and Maan health centers in northern rural Hama.

Who is funding and supervising the project?

UNICEF provides full funding, while the Hama Health Directorate and a specialized studies firm contracted by UNICEF jointly supervise implementation. The directorate manages quantities and expenditure oversight.

How many residents will benefit?

The Kafrnabuda center has a projected capacity of approximately 50,000 people, and the Maan center is expected to serve more than 10,000 residents.

What services are planned after rehabilitation?

Plans include recruiting new physicians and supplying both centers with medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and furnishings, alongside a wider plan to rehabilitate additional health centers in rural Hama, including the Zayzun center.