The medical situation in the Zaatari refugee camp is difficult to understand. At over 80,000 people, Zaatari is more like a slum than a camp, and providing adequate medical services with no infrastructure is an enormous challenge. It is also hard to find information about Zaatari due to restrictions on travel in and out of the camp, the limitations on photography, and the lack of electricity and internet.
Two years ago, I volunteered as an interpreter, scribe, and medical assistant at the Zaatari refugee camp to alleviate the severe shortage in medical staff. Here I will try to summarize the public health situation in Zaatari, though it has likely changed in the last 2 years.
At the time of writing, there are 2 hospitals and 9 medical centers in the Zaatari refugee camp, serving around 80,000 people. They are, in no particular order:
- Arabian Medical Relief Clinic
- Moroccan Hospital
- Italian Hospital
- KSA Hospital
- MSF Hospital
- JHAS Clinic
- Kuweiti Health Clinic
- Qatari Red Crescent
- MdM Clinics
- JHAS Maternity Clinic
- International Medical Corps Clinic
I worked in the Arabian Medical Relief Clinic, which was serving around 600 patients per day when I volunteered in June 2015. The following specialties had a location in the medical center, but were mostly unstaffed as they depended heavily on volunteers.
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular / Gastrointestinal
- Internal Medicine
- Surgery (defunct)
- ENT
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Gynecology
- 2 × Dental
- 2 × ER (male, female)
- Lab
- Pharmacy
- Vaccinations
- Prosthetics
- Psychology
- X-ray / Anesthesiology
For instance, in the first few days of June, pediatrics had 2 wards, occupying both the cardiovascular ward. Internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, the dental clinic, both emergency rooms, the lab, and pharmacy were filled, as well as endocrinology. All other specialties were closed.
I urge anyone with an interest in public and/or global health to volunteer in the refugee crisis: the need is pressing and enormous.