For Those in Need of Critical Health Support

MAKING A DIFFERENCE For Those in Need of Critical Health Support

MedGlobal works to help displaced populations and those struggling to attain health care

BY RABIYAH SYED

Dr. Zaher Sahloul (center)

In this era of social media and networking, global awareness of social and political injustice, war crimes and genocides have increased to a level never seen before in history. By the end of 2019, according to the UN, 79.5 million people had been forcibly displaced worldwide — the majority of them from Myanmar, Syria and Venezuela. Numerous refugees have been displaced as a result of man-made disasters. The Rohingya Muslims, who have fled their homeland during the last three years, constitute a significant refugee population. Refugees are a forgotten community that have long suffered from food shortages, unhygienic conditions, human trafficking and exploitation, as well as the lack of access to healthcare.

This nonprofit organization, which helps these marginalized populations and works to curtail inequality wherever it is found, was founded by the world-renowned humanitarian Dr. Zaher Sahloul. A critical care specialist at Advocate Christ Medical and the Center and Saint Anthony’s Hospital, Sahloul has received the Gandhi Award for Peace, as well as the “Heroes Among Us” and other awards. He is also an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Illinois (Chicago).

MedGlobal was founded in 2017 after hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled their country’s officially sanctioned violence and sought refuge in Bangladesh. As Sahloul explains, they began by “recruit[ing] doctors and nurses from different parts of the world, from places like the U.S., Canada, U.K, Australia. Every week, we sent 2 or 3 doctors or nurses.”

Efforts are currently being focused on Gaza, Greece, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Sudan, Venezuela, Colombia and Yemen. Sahloul states that the vision of MedGlobal, which is funded by donations only, is “to reduce healthcare inequality by building

resilience by partnering with local communities ... If there is an overwhelming humanitarian crisis and we have the capacity, we will help.” He and his colleagues made a difficult journey to Yemen to offer their help to those suffering through one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Medical personnel remain in the war-ravaged country to do what they can to alleviate the Yemeni’s man-made misery. she was diagnosed with depression and somatization, defined as when people with depression and PTSD feel like they have physical pain. This is just one example of how people, traumatized by the horrors they have seen and experienced, struggle with mental health issues.

MedGlobal is also dealing with the Covid19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected poor and vulnerable populations,

ALONG WITH HELPING DISPLACED POPULATIONS AND THOSE STRUGGLING TO ATTAIN HEALTHCARE, MEDGLOBAL’S AFFILIATED DOCTORS ALSO SEEK TO IMPROVE THEIR PATIENT’S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, AS WELL AS WELLBEING.

MedGlobal focuses on “sustainable medical programs, something which will outlast [their] stay.” As Sahloul remarked, just going to an area and providing supplies and then leaving is counterproductive. Their approach is not only to provide immediate aid to fragile states, but also to train local communities to deal with future disasters, give specialized equipment and focus on training, as well as set up medical clinics with battery-powered ultrasound machines to use as makeshift X-rays. These portable machines can be used in places without electricity.

But they are also involved in other activities. For example, in northwestern Syria they help evacuate displaced populations and in Bangladesh they have partnered with OBAT Helpers (https://obathelpers.org) and Prantic to run a clinic in the Kutupalong refugee camp. Meanwhile, MedGlobal and Rahma Worldwide (https://rahmaww.org) fund the pediatrics ICU department in a Gazan hospital to save children’s lives. The organization also trains local doctors, nurses and midwives through its Helping Babies Breathe program.

Along with helping displaced populations and those struggling to attain healthcare, MedGlobal’s affiliated doctors also seek to improve their patient’s physical and mental health, as well as wellbeing. Sahloul recalled a time when a patient at a refugee camp came to him with lung problems — she felt like she couldn’t breathe when entering her tent. Upon examination, by bringing supplies and resources to such heavily impacted areas as Bangladesh, Gaza, Greece, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Colombia, the U.S., India and Yemen. The organization has relied on local teams and their relationships in the countries. With the help of their logistics team, MedGlobal was able to send masks and other supplies procured from China to the countries it supports.

The organization also helps distribute such vaccine-related supplies as refrigerators to store the vaccine, needles, syringes and gloves for the doctors and nurses. And, in addition to this, they are also educating locals about the vaccine and reassuring them that it is safe to use. As Sahloul explains, “Vaccine education is very important because, as in the U.S., there are people who are hesitant to take the vaccine.” The difficulty of traveling because of Covid-19 have not stopped MedGlobal from providing aid. In fact, its medical personnel are taking online calls to talk to patients overseas.

These essential aid and services are life-changing for those in need.

Last year alone, MedGlobal helped 1.82 million people in 14 countries and supported 172 clinics. The impact of its exceptional work is immeasurable, for giving the vulnerable the much-needed health care services even during wars, natural disasters, a pandemic or humanitarian crises involving personal risks. ih

Rabiyah Syed is a 14-year-old freshman who is attending Naperville Central. She loves photography and aspires to be a speech pathologist.

Imam Position

Islamic Center of Brushy Creek (ICBC) located in Cedar Park, Texas (a suburb of Austin, TX) is looking for an Imam to lead our diverse community. The ideal candidate possesses the following qualifications. • Minimum of 4-year experience as an Imam. • Education from a recognized Islamic institution. • Ability to teach the Qur’an and Hadith. • Excellent communications skills. • Ability to relate to the youth. • Familiarity with the situation of the Muslim community in the West.

Duties will include:

• Leading the five daily prayers and Jumu’ah Khutbah. • Leading Tarawih prayers in Ramadan highly preferred. • Providing Islamic counseling and guidance to families and youth. • Participating in community activities, interfaith meetings, Islamic outreach, etc. • Conducting regular lectures on Islamic topics, Quran classes, etc.

Salary and Benefits:

Compensation will be determined based on qualifications.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a resume along with a cover letter addressing the items listed in this job announcement to info@icbrushycreek.org