Kobani dentist launches initiative to provide free consultations for emergency cases

Kobani – North-Press Agency
Fattah Issa – Fayad Muhammad

A dentist from Kobani,  northeast of Aleppo, has launched an initiative to provide free treatment for emergency cases in one of the city's hospitals, coinciding with the evening closures of dental clinics in light of the lockdown declared by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

Doctor Ahmad Sheikh Muslim Qadir told North-Press that he started the initiative in cooperation with al-Amal Hospital in Kobani last Thursday, and he will continue to do so throughout the imposed quarantine, treating patients after the end of the dentists’ work in their clinics, from 6 PM until midnight.

He added that the free service for emergency cases includes tests and hospital fees outside of normal business hours for dental clinics.

The Dental Association of Kobani organized a schedule of shifts in private clinics from 9 AM until 5 PM during the lockdown.

Qader emphasized his commitment to health measures in treating patients, such as wearing gloves and masks, in addition to sterilizing the tools used after checking each patient in order to prevent diseases such as the new coronavirus.

Qader appealed to other doctors to help people during this period, especially as some of them depended on daily income which was interrupted by the imposed quarantine.

The Autonomous Administration declared the lockdown in its areas of control for a period of two weeks, starting from Monday, the 23rd of March, as a precautionary measure to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic, which according to official statistics has infected five people in Syrian government-controlled areas. Meanwhile, sthe Autonomous Administration has announced zero cases in its areas so far.