Our PHCC, a medical resort for the vulnerable !

Alzahraa Medical Center (AMC) Overview

• Location: AMC is situated between Mankoubin and Jabal Mohsen in Tripoli, Lebanon, operating as a Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) under the Alawite Islamic Charity Association (AICA).
• Founding: Originally established as a dispensary in 2008, AMC responded to the critical healthcare needs of one of Lebanon’s most underserved communities.
• Growth: From 2011-2016, partnerships with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) enabled AMC to transition into a full-fledged PHCC in 2016.

Key Historical Developments

1. 2008: AMC started as a dispensary.
2. 2011-2016: Collaborations with MoPH, MoSA, and MSF enhanced AMC's capacity to offer essential healthcare services.
3. 2019-2022: Partnerships with YMCA and Première Urgence - Aide Médicale Internationale (PU-AMI) allowed AMC to offer chronic medication and maternal healthcare services.

Recent Projects and Partnerships (2022 Onwards)

• 3a Salameh Project (2022 - Present):

  • Partners: UNICEF, MoPH
  • Focus: Ensuring continuity of essential health services, particularly vaccination campaigns, with upgrades like solarizing healthcare centers to address power outages.

• REAYA Program (2023 - Present):

  • Partners: World Bank, MoPH
  • Objectives: Expanding healthcare access for vulnerable Lebanese and displaced Syrians, upgrading infrastructure, training staff, and enhancing service delivery.

• Renewed Partnership with MSF (April 2024 - Present):

  • Focus: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) management, addressing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.
  • Key Components:
    • Comprehensive medical care and treatment plans for NCD patients.
    • Capacity-building training for AMC’s staff.
    • Introduction of mental health services, including psychological treatments (launched in May 2024).

Services and Patient Impact

• Patient Volume: AMC serves approximately 7,000 patients per month.
• Services:
  • General and specialist medical consultations.
  • Free access to essential and chronic medications.
  • Maternal and child health services.
  • Immunization services.
  • Emergency response services (in partnership with CRS) during crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Achievements (as of September 2024)

• Subsidized Services:

  • General consultations priced at 400,000 LBP, specialist consultations at 600,000 LBP.
  • Vaccines and medications are provided free of charge, enhancing accessibility for low-income patients.

• MSF NCD Program:

  • Chronic medication renewals offered at 50,000 LBP.
  • Ongoing mental health services started in May 2024.

• World Bank Project (2024):

  • Launch of a program to distribute medical packages to low-income individuals registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs.

• Aa Salameh Project:

  • A team of 12 healthcare workers conducting house-to-house visits in Tripoli’s underserved areas, focusing on child health.

• Response to Displacement Crisis:

  • AMC connected with shelters in Jabal Mohsen, offering free medical services, hygiene kits, and mobile clinic visits funded by UNICEF.

Challenges and Responses

• High Cost of Medical Services: AMC subsidizes consultations and provides free medications to mitigate the financial burden on patients.
• Increasing Demand for NCD Services: The partnership with MSF enables affordable chronic care.
• Medication Access Issues: AMC ensures immediate distribution of prescribed medications and facilitates access to free chronic medications through the YMCA and MoPH.
• Displacement Crisis: AMC offers free healthcare and mobile clinic services to displaced families.

Upcoming Initiatives

• World Bank Collaboration: Expected to begin distributing medical packages to low-income individuals as of September 2024.
• Ongoing Expansion: AMC is committed to enhancing healthcare access through continued partnerships and service improvements.

• September_2024_Narrative_Report_AMC.docx (DOCX)
• September_2024_Budget_Report_AMC.xlsx (XLSX)