国际英语新闻:Feature: Syrian young people unite to help COVID-19 patients

DAMASCUS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- In a small room in one of Damascus' neighborhoods, a handful of young men and women were energetically receiving phone calls and writing down information about COVID-19 patients in need of help.

Under the names of Aqemha, or sterilize it, and Sammat Hakeem, Arabic for doctor's stethoscope, dozens of young people and doctors have joined forces to provide help for people suffering from COVID-19 and to ease the pressure on hospitals.

Aqemha group was started months ago by volunteers from universities, offering sterilization in public places, homes, and schools. The group also helps people with oxygen deficiency secure oxygen cylinders for free.

Sammat Hakeem, on the other hand, has started three years ago as a Facebook page offering information for medical school students. However, the page, which comprises more than 100 doctors, has started offering medical consultations online for free during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both groups have become famous in Syria with a growing number of people seeking their help during the pandemic.

Omar Bozo, the founder of Aqemha, told Xinhua that his group had been preparing for months for the second wave of the pandemic, adding that their collaboration with Sammat Hakeem came as a big medical team is needed to deal with the growing demands of people.

He said that the patients who need a doctor will get one for free, but they have to pay for his transportation.

"We offer consultations through social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and phone calls. There has been an increase in phone calls lately as we are witnessing now the peak of the second wave of the coronavirus," he said.

The 24-year-old university student, meanwhile, underscored the need for young people to engage in social initiatives to provide help for the people, particularly as the war in Syria hasn't ended yet while there is economic hardship resulting from the sanctions.

"As youth and local communities, such initiatives have become a duty for real because if we have the ability, the credibility and the experience, why wouldn't we do something in the face of the crisis," he said.

For his side, Hussain Najjar, a doctor, and founder of the Sammat Hakeem, told Xinhua that due to the massive interaction his social media page is receiving they launched a mobile app to organize the requests and consultations.

"We have already received 14,000 consultations related to the coronavirus via the app. We have sensed big popular interaction as a result of the trust we have earned from the people," he said.

Najjar said the service they provide is simpler than those in the hospitals, noting that any help is good to support doctors in hospitals.

"The doctors working in public hospitals have endured bigger pressure and they were the unknown soldiers of what we call the White Army," he remarked.

Najjar pointed out that they help the people who have hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) and those with mild symptoms of coronavirus either through the application or phone calls.

Since March, over 10,000 COVID-19 cases have been officially reported in government-controlled areas in Syria with the actual number is expected to be higher.

Health ministry officials said recently that the number of officially registered cases had increased five times since mid-November.