HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba- Afrin-Shahba Health Council opened the Health Faculty in Shahba on November 2,2021. Students receive both theoretical and practical training at the faculty for two years. After graduating from the faculty, they are able to work in hospitals and health centers in the region.

 Shahba needs healthcare workers due to the ongoing threats and attacks of the Turkish state and the siege imposed by the Syrian government. This year, 22 students have enrolled at the faculty and 17 students, who graduated from the faculty in 2023, continue to receive practical training at hospitals in the region.

 “The Health Faculty was opened because the region needs healthcare workers,” said Bêrîvan Koloşo, the director of the Afrin-Shahba Health Faculty. “After graduating from the faculty, the students start working at hospitals in the region, easing the burden on the healthcare field. The students who graduated from the faculty in 2023 now work at Avrîn and Tıl Rıfat hospitals as nurses.”

‘The situation in the region affects us’

Ferîda Hebeş, a first-year student at the faculty, told NuJINHA that they faced many challenges. “We face many challenges and obstacles. But our resistance and will are stronger than the challenges and obstacles. Despite all the attacks, we, as students, do not stop working. We will realize the dream of leader Apo by building a free, political and ethical society.”

‘I have realized the dream of my martyred brother’

 Zêrîn Îbîş is another student at the faculty. “My martyred brother always told me to be a nurse. I have realized his dream. I want to help my people and society as a nurse in the future. Displaced people of Afrin face many difficulties due to the ongoing siege imposed by the Damascus (Syrian) government and threats and attacks of the Turkish state.”

‘We have practical lessons’

Berfîn Elo talked about the theoretical and practical training received by them. “We receive both theoretical and practical training. We learn information about medicines once a week. We learn anatomy and have practical lessons. We also participate in Arabic, Kurdish and English seminars.”

 ‘Many injured people are transferred to hospital’

Ronî Bekir is in the second grade of the faculty. She undergoes a period of training at a hospital while receiving training at the faculty. “The second grade students also receive practical training at hospitals. Although we are in the second grade, we see many injured people due to the ongoing attacks on the region. Many people injured in the attacks have been transferred to the hospital for a week. We want to be healthcare workers to be beneficial to our society and people.”