Rome's Bambino Gesu Hospital reaches out to Syrian children

By Michele Raviart

Wafaa is nine years old. She comes from Syria. Her life changed dramatically when her home in a small village east of Aleppo was bombed. Half her body is covered with burns caused by the explosions. Wafaa arrived in Rome last month, together with her mother Aede, as a guest of the Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital. Here, doctors will operate on her in an attempt to restore her sight, reconstruct her face, and help her recover the use of her left hand.

Guests of the Bambin Gesù Children’s Hospital

Raduan is seven years old. He reached Italy thanks to the humanitarian corridors created by the St Egidio Community. He suffers from osteogenesis, or brittle bone disease. Another child from Syria will arrive in June. They are called "humanitarian patients" and they are in Rome thanks to an agreement between the World Health Organization, which offers financial support to families allowing them to stay in Italy, and the Bambin Gesù Children’s Hospital, which provides the medical care.

Agreement between the Hospital and WHO Syria

The project sees the collaboration of the Bambin Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, with the WHO in Syria, and provides support for Syrian children and adolescents. Six years of war have destroyed half the health facilities in Syria and decimated medical personnel. The project will last for the next three years and includes training for medical and nursing staff at the Damascus University Hospital. It is expected to be extended to the staff of the public hospitals in Latakia and Aleppo as well.