Photo caption: Thaer Al-Ali at BASMA Association in Rural Damascus, Syria providing healthcare for a young cancer patient. 1 September 2024, Damascus, Syria –Thaer Al-Ali is a nurse at the BASMA Association in Syria’s Rural Damascus governorate. He is part of a team caring for children with cancer.
“Every day starts early. By the time I arrive at work the weight of the day’s responsibilities are already pressing on me. The first task is a debriefing meeting with colleagues during which we discuss the patients’ conditions and treatment plans. We care for children with life-threatening illnesses and the meeting is crucial to prepare for the day ahead.
“I witness heart-wrenching cases. We provide both medical care and emotional support for patients and their families.
“Few people understand the dangers health care workers face in Syria. Sometimes we risk our lives to do our jobs.
“Between 2014 and 2018 I used to commute to Al-Biruni University Hospital in Harasta, one of Rural Damascus’s more dangerous areas. Each day I had to decide whether I would stay home, in which case I would have been neglecting my patients, or risk my life by going to work, fully aware of the dangers posed by snipers and gunfire. Sadly, it was common to hear about colleagues being injured or killed while commuting to or from the hospital. Every morning, I felt uncertain. Yes, I might make it to work today but tomorrow could be a different story.
“Despite the constant fear, we never stopped. I was there to assist the patients, especially the children, overcome their illnesses. It was their courage, their smiles, their simple words of ‘thank you’ that helped me through the tough times. The atmosphere was emotional, filled with reassurance and love. Losing a child during treatment is like losing part of your soul.
“I remember taking a young girl to surgery. Her mother, who was at the hospital entrance, was hit by shrapnel from a mortar. We were shocked to see the mother being rushed in instead. Thankfully, both the girl and her mother survived. These are the stories we lived through.
“Today, the situation in Syria has improved but the economic crisis is severe. Many people struggle to afford the basics needed to survive. I am grateful that we can provide free treatment, supported by health partners like WHO.
“Being a nurse in Syria is more than a profession, it is a mission to bring hope and healing to those in need, no matter the circumstances. We are defined by our dedication, which drives us every day in this resilient nation where hope is often the only medicine on offer.”
