The CURE Project – “Enhancing Healthcare and Social Protection in 16 Social Development Centers (SDCs) Across Lebanon” – was implemented by ICU under the ISOSEP Programme, funded by the European Union and carried out by AICS in close collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) and its local structures, the Social Development Centers (SDCs). The project contributed to strengthen access to primary healthcare and social protection services, benefiting the most vulnerable communities and Syrian refugees, by supporting the centers with medical equipment, supplies, and case management and referral mechanisms to secondary healthcare services.
When the conflict struck the country, collaboration among all actors proved essential. ICU, MoSA, and AICS responded by distributing hygiene kits and dignity kits to displaced families, while medical screening campaigns helped identify urgent healthcare needs and ensure timely care, including through referrals to hospital services.
Fatimah’s story
In this context comes the story of Fatimah, whom we met during a medical screening at the SDC in Qoubeh.. What was supposed to be a routine check quickly revealed a critical situation. At the vital signs station, the nurse detected extremely high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and paleness. Fatimah suffered from chronic illnesses and had not had access to medical care for months; the recent loss of her husband and lack of health coverage had further worsened her condition.
The nurse immediately alerted the doctor, who conducted a careful and reassuring assessment. In that moment of great vulnerability, Fatimah began to feel heard and safe. The diagnosis was clear: severe, uncontrolled hypertension, likely responsible for the weakness she had been experiencing for months.
Given the urgency of her condition, the doctor immediately activated a referral to Tripoli Governmental Hospital for further examinations, including blood tests and an echocardiogram. Thanks to the referral mechanisms strengthened by the CURE Project, her case was managed quickly and efficiently, ensuring timely care.
A month later, Fatimah returned to the SDC with a renewed smile. She shared that she had regained the ability to walk, climb stairs, and carry out daily activities. Her health had improved, and most importantly, her trust in a healthcare system capable of caring for the most vulnerable had been restored.
Fatimah’s story is one of many that demonstrate the tangible impact of the CURE Project: through targeted screenings, organizational support, and efficient referrals, hundreds of beneficiaries have gained timely access to care, feeling heard, respected, and safe throughout the entire healthcare journey.
