A three-day medical convoy was held in Siwa Oasis between 10-12 September at the Siwa Central Hospital, providing a range of specialised medical care for the oasis’ underserved community. The Cairo-based convoy was organised by a group of independent medical and non-medical volunteers, with input from the Ministry of Health. It brought together a team of 50 volunteers, including specialist doctors from Cairo and Alexandria, to provide much-needed, free-of-charge healthcare currently not available in the oasis. Doctors held walk-in clinics covering internal medicine, paediatrics, urology, ears-nose-throat (ENT), dermatology and dentistry. For its duration, the convoy also installed a pop-up pharmacy that dispensed free medication provided by NGOs, with pharmacies in Siwa providing other medication if needed. The convoy’s agenda also focused on community work, providing a health awareness campaign targeting Siwi women, particularly focusing on women’s health and hygiene. Also involved in the community work were a range of non-medical volunteers who set up a children’s play area for drawing, calligraphy, and games. The Siwa medical convoy was started in November 2014, after an acquaintance of the convoy’s organisers, who had travelled to the oasis earlier that year, reported cases…
Medical Convoy Provides Needed Health Services to Neglected Siwa Community
September 20, 2015
