500 Women from Damascus and Dara’a Benefit from Health Awareness and Psychosocial Support Sessions
The Department of Diakonia and Social Service, of the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s Office, organized health and psychosocial support sessions for women in reproductive age from Damascus, its countryside, and Dara’a Governorates.
250 women from Damascus and its countryside, and 250 women from Dara’a participated in the 7 days sessions. These sessions were divided into 5 days of health awareness sessions during which the women were educated about the most prominent diseases in society, such as heart disease, osteoporosis, cholera, high blood pressure, diabetes discussing the underlying reasons, prevention methods and treatment in addition to the importance of following a healthy lifestyle. They also learned the proper way to use a blood pressure measurement device.
Two days of the sessions were dedicated to psychosocial support. During these sessions, the women learned the correct methods for dealing with stress and self-care, the importance of development characteristics for children of 6 to 18 years, and effective communication with children.
The participants received brochures covering the various topics addressed during the course. At the end of the program, they received a woman kit that contained nutritious and healthy supplies.
One of the participants from the countryside of Damascus said, "The information I received are very valuable, as sessions not only provided me with new insights but also corrected inaccurate health information that we were passing down to our children without realizing it was incorrect. I also learned how to deal with children from different age groups. The psychosocial support sessions helped me understand how to deal with stress."
