Walking to The Children of Syria – يحيى حوى l لاجلك يا شام – Lajlek Ya Sham l Yahya Hawwa

Please watch.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0SBphaU6UU]

The nation’s first Arab sorority, the Empowered Arab Sisterhood at UCLA presents our second annual charity banquet co-hosted by our newly established brother fraternity, Brotherhood of Distinguished Arabs at UCLA. We will be raising funds to benefit the displaced Syrians of the Al Zaatari refugee camp – مخيم الزعتري with medical aid through the Salaam Cultural Museum. Al Zaatari is home to over 100,000 displaced syrian refugees and the numbers are growing each day. Help us exceed our goal of raising $10,000 to help support the Syrian refugees.

Please join us Saturday, April 26th for an unforgettable night of Arab culture through delicious (Free) food, a beautiful fashion show, mesmerizing musical performances, captivating traditional dances, spoken word performances, and a live raffle.

Doors open 6:30PM

Admission is FREE. Donations HIGHLY suggested.

DONATE ONLINE HERE: http://www.gofundme.com/rememberingtherefugees14

Space is limited so please be on time.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Attire: Formal

Location: Ackerman Grand Ballroom at UCLA
UCLA Map: http://maps.ucla.edu/campus/
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Please note that the lot that you used to park in, lot 6, no longer exists. Lot 4 is easiest to reach from Sunset Blvd. If you happen to accidentally exit on Wilshire East, make a left turn on Veteran, Turn right onto Sunset Blvd, Turn RIGHT onto Westwood Plaza. Continue straight down into parking lot 4 on Westwood Blvd until you reach the Parking information kiosk (left lane) here you’ll be able obtain a parking permit for the duration of your stay.

Directions:
Get off the 405 Fwy at Wilshire Blvd,
go West three blocks to Westwood Blvd,
then North six blocks to the information kiosk (blue “i” on the map below) in the traffic island in the middle of the road. Buy a parking pass from the kiosk attendant, then the attendant will direct you to Lot 8 or Lot 9.

http://ucla.accelerating.org/parking.html 

Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Los Angeles, California 90095
View Map · Get Directions

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For further questions, email us at eas.ucla@gmail.com or message us on facebook at www.facebook.com/empoweredarabsisterhooducla 

Monday, March 24
Irbid Clinic, Jordan
By Rhenda Meiser and Hamid Alhiasat

Today we went to a clinic in Irbid, a city in northwestern Jordan close to Syria. We are on our third day of visits. Our medical team featured family doctors, dentists, OB-GYN, pediatrics, cardiology and eye care—plus a humanitarian team who played with the children and distributed clothing, diapers, formula, and toys. My job was to tell the stories of some of the Syrian refugees, so my colleague and interpreter Hamid went to the waiting room. The room was packed with women and children while the men waited outside. Families kept showing up, and the noise of the room rose steadily until we had to shout to hear each other.

Ahmed R
We approached a middle-aged man who was very enthusiastic to tell America what he thought. He explained that he had four sons ages 12-20, the eldest in dental school. He was so proud of this fact. But after soldiers attacked his village and his house burned down, they had to flee. They crossed the border into Jordan by foot. Now here, Ahmed says life is very expensive and refugees are not permitted to work.

“America is the biggest, most powerful country and the U.S. can force the government to stop killing us,” said Ahmed.

What upsets him the most at this point is that his son had to stop training to become a dentist. He asks Americans to help his son continue his education.

Ghufran A
I also spoke with a woman named Ghufran, sitting quietly with two little boys. She was expecting her fourth child in two months. Her hijab and gown were black; a turquoise headband framed her face. She gave me a warm smile when I looked over.

She had been very happy in Daraa, Syria. She worked for a pharmacy and her husband worked for the health ministry, leading a very comfortable life. They had just bought a new house and she was pregnant with her second son. In 2012, the Assad regime bombed her street to rubble and she moved to her mother’s home. After four months, her mothers’ street was also destroyed and she knew it was time to leave the country. At personal risk, her husband stayed behind to serve the people. He would secretly pack his car with medical supplies and distribute them to the town’s residents. Eventually soldiers started following him. If the soldiers found “even a syringe” in his car, he would face big problems. “Medical professionals are targeted in Syria, because they help people live,” Ghufran said.

After two years, Syria became too dangerous and he joined his family here. Since the bombings, Ghufran’s 5-year old son Mohammad wakes up with nightmares, afraid that soldiers will come to the house and hurt him. Loud noises also upset him. At the clinic that day, Ghufran met with the obstetrician and Mohammad got pediatric care. Our mission also includes psychiatrists.

“I had the house, the children, a good life,” said Ghufran.

“We call that the American dream,” I told her.

“It is the Syrian dream too,” she replied.

She asks for the U.S. government to create a no-fly zone over Syria.

(Out of modesty, Ghufran did not wish to have her picture taken, however these are her boys).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gibran

The last of my interviews was the most unnerving. As we talked with Ghufran, an intense young man came over and spoke to Hamid. He looked angry and tired with a taut intensity to him. He was extremely handsome—in America he could be a model for Ralph Lauren—but he was now toughened, lined, unsmiling. Tightly wound.

Gibran was 29 and a former law student from the village of As Suwayda, next to Da’raa. His family and village were Druze.

Gibran (who indeed comes from the Syrian region where the famous poet Khalil Gibran lived) was arrested three times and tortured. His story deserves more time so I will share it soon.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to have soldiers shoot at me, or bomb my house, or arrest my family member, but this is happening in Syria.  It’s happening to decent people who love their families and want to be able to vote for their leader.  At the very least, we can show we care by providing aid and health care, the opportunity to attend school, and jobs to keep them going until Syria stabilizes. If we do, they will remember that America helped.

 

SCM March Mission 2014 Report

1- Total patients seen at Medical Days: 3051 patients (medical days + Amman clinic + Alzaatari clinic). Patients received medical treatment as well as medications.

2- Dental Clinic: 318 patients ( patients received deep cleaning + extractions+ filling+ medications)

3- Ophthalmology clinic: 308 patients (patients in need received glasses)

4- Psych Team: 107 patients ( patients received treatment + medications)

5- Wound Care Team: 59 patients

Best Regards

Pharmacist Layla

Below is a list of medications we need all the time at our pharmacies for the missions. If you will be traveling on an upcoming mission and can collect supplies of these medications – or samples, whatever you can bring, it is much needed. We also use funds raised to purchase whatever we are short of at the time of the mission.

You can also download a PDF copy of the list here: MissionMedList

 

Adult AB

Clarithromycin 250 mg

Clarithromycin 500 mg

Cephalexin 500 mg

Levofloxacin 500 mg

Ciprofloxacin 500 mg

Doxicycline 100 mg

Amoxicillin 250 mg

Amoxicillin 500 mg

Bactrim (Trimethoprim & Sulfamethoxazole)

Azithromycin250 mg

Metronidazole 250 mg

Metronidazole 500 mg

Mebendazole (For worms)

Albendazole 400 mg

Fluconazole 150 mg

Moxifloxacin 500

Itraconazole

 

Analgesia

Tylenol (Acetamenophin) 500 mg

Tylenol (Acetamenophin) 325 mg

Tramadol 50 mg

Diclofenac sodium 50 mg

Diclofenac sodium 100 mg

Diclofenac sodium gel

Arthrotic (Diclofenac sodium + Misoprostol)

Miloxicam 15 mg

Naproxen 220 mg

Naproxen 500 mg

Ibuprofen 200 mg

Ibuprofen 400 mg

Ibuprofen 800 mg

Mefenamic acid 500 mg

Celebrex 200 mg

Ketoprofen 75 mg

Lidocaine patch 5%

 

Muscle Relaxants

Baclofen 10 mg

Baclofen 20 mg

Methocarbamol (central muscle relaxant)

Myogesic( Paracetamol / Chlorzoxazone)

 

Cardiac + HTN

Digoxin 0.25 ug

Atenolol 25 mg

Atenolol 50 mg

Atenolol 100 mg

Amlodipine 5 mg

Amlodipine 10 mg

Metoprolol 50 mg

Metoprolol 100 mg

Diltiazem 30 mg

Diltiazem 90 mg

Clopedigrol (Plavix) 75 mg

Aspirin 100 mg

Dipyridamole 75 mg

Enalapril 10 mg

Enalapril 20 mg

Carvedilol 3.125 mg

Carvedilol 6.25 mg

Carvedilol 12.5 mg

Carvedilol 25 mg

Losartan 50 mg

Losartan 100 mg

Azor (Amlodipine + Olmesartan) tab 5/20

Bisoprolol 2.5 mg

Bisoprolol 5 mg

Propranolol 10 mg

Propranolol 20 mg

Trental (Pentoxifylline) 400 mg

IsosorbideDintrate 5 mg

IsosorbideDintrate(Isoket retard) 20 mg

IsosorbideDintrate(Isoket retard) 40 mg

Furosemide 40 mg

Torsemide100 mg

Lisinopril/HCT 20/12.5 mg

Lisinopril 5 mg

Lisinopril 10 mg

Lisinopril 20 mg

Lisinopril 40 mg

Captopril 25 mg

Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg

Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg

Warfarin 2.5 mg

Warfarin 3 mg

Warfarin 5 mg

Nifedipine 60 mg

Hydralazine 250 mg

Bystolic (Nebivolol) 5 mg

Renaxa (Ranolazine) 500 mg

Renaxa (Ranolazine) 1000 mg

 

Anti-lipid drugs

Simvastatin 20 mg

Simvastatin 40 mg

Atorvastatin 10 mg

Bezalip (Bezafibrate) 200 mg

Lovastatin 40 mg

Pravastatin 10 mg

Gemfibrozil 600 mg

 

Dermatology

Ketokonazole 2% cream

Betamethasone cream

Triamcinolone cream

Calamine (crotamiton) lotion for allergy

Mupirocin 2% oint (Mupirocin)

Benzyl benzoate solution

Stromectol (Ivermectin) 3 mg

Lycelle( head lice removal shampoo )

Panderm (Nystatin + Ketokonazole) cream

Clindamycin gel

Cloderm (clocortolone) Cream 0.1%

Pentostam Injection (Sodium Stibogluconate) for Leishmania

 

Endocrinology

Actos (pioglitazone 15 mg)

Metformin HCL 500 mg

Metformin HCL 1000 mg

Amaryl 2 mg

Amaryl 4 mg

Glyburide/Metformin 2.5/500

Glipizide 10 mg

Saxagliptin

Linagliuptin/Metformin 2.5/500 tab

Levothyroxin 25 mcg

Levothyroxin 50 mcg

Levothyroxin 100 mcg

 

Gyne

Gyno – Meconazol 400 mg   Vaginal supp

Antifungal (Clotrimazole) vaginal cream

Oral contraceptive pills

Itraconazole

 

Urology

Detrusitol 4mg (Tolterodine)

Sanctura (Trospium)

Avodart (Dutasteride) 0.5mg

 

G.I

Riabal (Prifinium Bromide)spasmolytic agent

Dulcolax 10 mg (bisacodyl) (Laxatives)

Metoclopramide 10 mg

Domperidone10 mg

Kristalose (lactulose) 10 gm sachets

Kristalose (lactulose) 20 mg sachets

Deflat (gas relief)

Dusputalin(mebeverine) 135 mg

Librax (Poxidium-Chlordiazepoxide+Clidinium bromide)

Amitiza (Lubiprostone) 8 mcg (for IBS with constipation)

Amitiza (Lubiprostone) 24 mcg (for IBS with constipation)

Imotril (loperamide) 2 mg

Ranitidine 150 mg

Lansoprazole 30 mg

Align (Probiotic)

Laxadyl supp (Laxatives)

Meselamine 1.2 g

Ondansetron 4 mg

Proctolar supp (Hemorrhoid)

Xylocaine gel

 

Neuro + Psych

Fluoxetine 20 mg

Sertraline 50 mg

Escitalopram 20 mg

Carbamazepine 200 mg

Depakine 500 mg

Gabapentine400 mg

Mirapex (Pramipexole) 1.5

Mirapex (Pramipexole) 2.25

Topiramate25 mg

Topiramate 50 mg

Lamotrigine100 mg

Levetiracetam 750 mg

 

Ophthalmology

Tobramycin (Antibiotic) eye drops

Phenicol (Chloramphenicol) eye drop

Tobradex eye ointment

Apihist eye drop (for allergy & redness)

Apisal drop (NaCl)

Pilocarpine ophthalmic solution

 

Peds

Azithromycin 15 ml suspension

Azithromycin 22.5 ml suspension

Amoxocillin/Clavulanate457mg chewable

Amoxocillin/Clavulanate   156 mg susp

Amoxocillin/Clavulanate   312 mg susp

Bactrim 100 ml suspension (Trimethoprim/Sulphamethoxazole)

Metronidazole 125 mg suspension

Metronidazole 200 mg suspension

Ibuprofen syrup

Tylenol children syr

Acetaminophen drops

Acetaminophen 125 mg supp

Multivitamins syr

Degas drops

Riabal infant drop (Spasmolytic agent)

ORS

Cold & cough pediatric syr

Antifungal oral gel

Indocin (Indomethacine)

Chlorphenarmine syr for allergy

Loratidine syr

Salbutamol syr

Panderm cream (Nystatin+Neomycin Sulfate) for napkin rash

 

Supplements

Prenatal vitamins

Centrum Daily Vitamins

Calcium Acetate 667 mg

Vit D + Ca tab

Folic acid 1 mg

Folic acid 5 mg

Ferrous gluconate 300 mg

Vitamin B complex tab

L-Carnitine tab

 

Dizziness &Ear

Verotec (Betahistin) 8 mg

Vertizine (Cinnarizine) 25 mg

Vertizine 75 mg

Otocol ear drop (for otitis externa)

 

Rheumatology

Alluporinol 100 mg

Uloric (Febuxostat) 40 mg

Glucosamine 1500 mg injections

 

Respirat.& Allergy

Ventoline inhaler

Salbutamol 4 mg

Salbutamol syr

Salbutamol inhaler

Adavair Diskus (Fluticasone + Salmetrol) inhaler

Dulera inhaler 100/5 (mometasone/formoterol)

Dulera inhaler 200/5 (mometasone/formoterol)

Symbicort 80/4.5 inhaler

Symbicort 160/4.5 inhaler

Asmanex inhaler 200 (Mometasone)

Asmanex inhaler 400 (Mometasone)

Loratidine 10 mg

Tylenol cold & flu

Prednisone 5 mg

Prednisone 10 mg

Prednisone 20 mg

Trifed plus (for flu)

Mucinex expectorant

Mucolyte syr (Mucus desolvent)

Monelukast (Singulair) 10mg

Allerfine (Chlorpheniramine) 4 mg

Nocuf syr (Cough & Flu)

Jospan syr (dry + productive cough)

 

Injections

Allerfine IM inj for allergy

Ranitidine IV-IM inj

Diclofenac Na 75 mg IM inj

Brufen IV inj

Furosemide IM-IV inj

Dexamethason 8 mg IM inj

Riabal IM inj (for abdominal colic)

 

 

Our March mission has finally ended to my regret but at the same time I need to go home and recoup from everything. This was one of the biggest groups of physicians, social workers, psychiatrists and humanitarians that we have had. We had a group of 42 people plus the volunteers and translators and doctors in Jordan that also joined the team.

They were a great group of people but I know that we want to keep the number from now on down to about half that size. It will be easier for the logistics and we will be able to move faster and get to the different sites faster and not worry about getting people onto vans and moving out of the hotel.

Each mission is harder than the last since we are seeing so many more people and seeing the increase of diseases. There has been a high increase in people suffering from PTSD, scabies, leishmaniasis, respiratory disease and so much more. At the Zaatari camp, we received a request that our psychiatrists come there due to the high rates of depression and suicide. We had 5 mental health specialists on this mission and they went regularly to Zaatari. Luckily, we also have a doctor in Amman who will follow up with these patients. On other days we split the team into clinics in different cities in Jordan.

Our translators would tell the stories of the families and the patients to the visiting doctors. Some of our doctors had to take time to talk to our own team of mental health specialists since this was their first mission and they were feeling overwhelmed by the horrors that these people had gone through. Even for me, I have been on 8 missions now, it is very hard. I believe I cried like I did on the very first mission when seeing and hearing the stories the refugees have to tell. But I did see some our patients that we had treated on previous missions, and saw how we had helped them, and that gave me a good feeling that we were making a difference.