Humanity and Inclusion Northeastern Syria

Throughout the project, HI successfully implemented a comprehensive approach that included assessments and capacity building for implementing partners and health facilities in North East Syria. The implementation of the Rehabilitation Management System (RMS) enhanced the quality management of rehabilitation services by evaluating against established references and standards, aligned with the 6 WHO building blocks for health system strengthening. Persons with functional limitations in North East Syria (NES) have improved their functional independence and reduced potential complications: 96.6 % of people with functional limitations completing their physical rehabilitation follow-up, reported an improvement of their functional independence. 93 % of trained Syrian health staff demonstrated an improvement in their knowledge on physical and functional rehabilitation, PSS and/or prosthetics. 99% of caregivers receiving psychosocial support express experiencing less burden The Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC), which is the main local Health facility in NES, was supported and demonstrated improvement in the delivery of multidisciplinary physical rehabilitation services, including customised prosthetics & orthotics, psychosocial support. Throughout 2024, HI continued to enhance access to quality, inclusive rehabilitation services for vulnerable communities, particularly people with disabilities, in Hassakeh governorate in NES, in partnership with the Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC). HI worked to strengthen KRC's technical and operational capacities at the rehabilitation center in Qamishli. Additionally, this partnership included the deployment of mobile teams to remote, under-served areas, overcoming barriers such as security risks, physical limitations, and lack of infrastructure. Physical Rehabilitation: In the latest reporting period, 13,869 sessions were provided to 2,714 beneficiaries (228 girls, 380 boys, 990 women, 1,116 men, including 1,626 with disabilities) leading to a total of 8,845 beneficiaries supported throughout the project duration. 2,239 assistive devices were provided to 1,322 beneficiaries.466 prosthetics were distributed to 389 beneficiaries. Psychosocial Support (PSS): 4,413 sessions were provided to 1,376 rehabilitation beneficiaries. Services included individual counseling focusing on resilience-building and coping strategies. PSS services targeted people with disabilities, their caregivers, and community members experiencing psychological challenges. Education: In the latest reporting period, 6,565 sessions were provided to 1,281 caregivers (14 boys, 61 girls, 925 women, 281 men) leading to a total of 5,090 caregivers supported throughout the project duration. The sessions enhanced caregivers' understanding of the rehabilitation process and equip them with skills to support beneficiaries at home. 2,671 sessions were provided, addressing caregiver burden and equipping them with coping mechanisms. Community Awareness on Inclusive Rehabilitation: HI conducted 42 awareness sessions (January-April 2024) reaching 321 participants (203 women, 118 men, including 132 persons with disabilities). The sessions, led by 2 Inclusion Ambassadors, fostered greater community understanding of disabilities and encouraged the active participation of persons with disabilities.

The project will contribute to improving the lives of persons with functional limitations in Northeastern Syria by enabling them gain or re-gain their functional independence through rehabilitation services. The overall objective of the intervention is that Access to quality and GAD (Gender, Age and Disability) inclusive physical rehab services for vulnerable persons is improved, in three governorates in Northeastern Syria through a) Activities focusing on the strengthening of health facilities in providing quality services and b) Activities focusing on reinforcing beneficiaries awareness, participation and feedback on the services, in order to: 1) Increasing access: providing and scaling up physical rehabilitation services in existing rehabilitation units or supporting the setting up of services. Mobile teams will also do home visits to beneficiaries when they cannot come to the rehabilitation fixed point. 2) Strengthening the health system through close collaboration/capacity building of health facilities and training/coaching of staff members to provide a qualitative and patient-centred service. 3) Ensuring that beneficiaries are aware of the services and can access it, that they can provide feedback that will inform improvement and adaptation of the services. This overall objective will contribute to a longer term vision of health system strengthening where Syria's national health plan will, building on existing structures, ensure sustainable physical rehabilitation services at three different levels: Specialized rehabilitation services, intermediate rehabilitation services and community level rehabilitation services.