Care and surgery
Training and skills transfer
Building and equipping hospitals
Prevention and screening
Emergencies and humanitarian crises
Maternal health
Lebanon
Axes of intervention
Prevention and screening- Care and surgery
- Training and skills transfer
Mission start date: 2005
While Lebanon is going through an unprecedented crisis, many families are struggling to meet their basic daily needs, such as access to healthcare. Present in the country since 2005, La Chaîne de l'Espoir is working in Lebanon to treat children with orthopedic congenital malformations who have no access to medical care.
Background
Lebanon sinks into the worst crisis in its history
82% of the population
in Lebanon live below the poverty line.
A third of the population
in Lebanon is deprived of healthcare.
1.5 million refugees
are hosted by Le Liban (half of them minors).
Weakened by a major economic, political and social crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and the explosions in the port of Beirut in 2020, the Lebanese population is sinking into misery. Lebanon is facing unprecedented inflation, a shortage of resources and a collapse of public services. While the country has the highest number of refugees per capita in the world, a growing proportion of people are now living below the poverty line: in Lebanon, 90% of Syrians, 73% of Palestinian refugees, and more than half of all Lebanese households are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Against this backdrop, the vast majority of families in Lebanon are deprived of access to healthcare, and are unable to pay soaring hospital bills. Whereas yesterday’s healthcare system was almost in line with World Health Organization standards in terms of the number of doctors, number of beds available, etc., today access and quality of care are considerably hampered. This situation poses a vital risk to the most vulnerable, especially children.
Our humanitarian aid action in Lebanon
Comprehensive care for orthopedic deformities
In Lebanon, orthopedic congenital anomalies are among the most common birth defects.
In the absence of care, a child suffering from a malformation such as clubfoot or hip dislocation will encounter major difficulties throughout his or her life: disability, social, educational and professional exclusion. Conversely, access to care changes the lives of children and their families.
In Lebanon, a large number of children end up with disabilities even though their condition could have been detected and treated at birth or in the first few months of life. Early detection makes it possible to treat children with less invasive techniques (physiotherapy, orthotics, etc.) and greatly increases the chances of preventing the development of a disability.
Helping the most disadvantaged children
In several hospitals in Beirut, La Chaîne de l’Espoir facilitates access to care for children from modest families who suffer from congenital malformations.
La Chaîne de l’Espoir is developing the following humanitarian actions in Lebanon, thanks to the support of AFD:
- raising public awareness ;
- early detection campaigns ;
- Surgical or non-invasive treatment including, as required: consultations with medical specialists, surgical operations, casts, physiotherapy sessions or medical orthoses;
- training for paramedical staff working in health centers, hospitals, other organizations, etc. These courses enable them to learn more about orthopedic congenital anomalies and detect cases requiring treatment;
- transport for children and accompanying adults, if necessary,
- post-processing follow-up ;
- psychosocial support for children and families.
La Chaîne de l’Espoir mobilized following the explosions in the port of Beirut
On August 4, 2020, a double explosion in the port of Beirut devastated a large part of the city, killing 226 people and injuring more than 6,500. In the days following this terrible tragedy, anaesthetic products, medicines, equipment and consumables were sent on site to help treat the injured. The association has also set up a mechanism to identify and refer vulnerable patients in order to finance their surgery at the Sacré Coeur hospital.
→ Find out more about our interventions in crisis and emergency situations
Photos: Arthur Sarradin
Our partners
They support our humanitarian aid
in Lebanon
No linked partners found.
