Um Hamman


Zahle
Lebanon


Due to the medications and the care he’s receiving here, he’s getting better, thanks be to God. He’s in a better shape and his weight has improved. Psychologically, too, he’s better than he was before.



In the hospital in Zahle,
MSF provides care
for children affected by thalassaemia


Gharam Ghnaim
External activities supervisor


Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder that is common in the Mediterranean region. We have 91 children of various nationalities who are receiving thalassaemia treatment here.
Thalassaemia is a
hereditary disease
which leads to anaemia


Gharam Ghnaim
External activities supervisor
They need around 120 to 130 units of blood a month.

We help them by getting hold of the blood for transfusions, as well as providing the medication, as the project is comprehensive.
Dr Haytham Bu Hussein
Most of our patients are Syrian refugees, although we also have some Lebanese patients.

Currently, we have 12 or 13 patients in the ward.


For these children,
having access to blood
transfusions is vital


Dr Alaa Abu Farah
If a child doesn’t have a blood transfusion every month, they’ll experience a number of symptoms: mainly an enlarged spleen and iron accumulation in the heart, so much so that they could die without regular blood transfusions. The complications are severe.
As Covid-19 spreads
in Lebanon, the authorities
have imposed a series of lockdowns



Gharam Ghnaim
The biggest problem we face right now is securing blood for the children. The coronavirus pandemic is making it difficult to find donors for the thalassaemia patients…

Another major issue is the lack of other organisations providing treatment for thalassaemia patients in Lebanon.
Hamman’s mother
I hope he becomes healthy, not like this. Now he’s a child, but when he grows up, he’ll know about his difficult disease. It’ll be hard for him to work and to live a normal life.


A specific and expensive drug is also part of the treatment for thalassemia.

But considering the needs, MSF increased this year the number of treated patients from 74 to more than 90.