Moamen, a boy in Tulkarm, Palestine, was born with a small cerebellum, a part of the brain that controls balance. He also suffered a lack of oxygen at birth, and as a result, he has a mental disability that includes problems with pronunciation. He has been in physical therapy since he was 8 months old.
His impaired balance makes it difficult to move him around, and he never had a wheelchair for support growing up. Instead, his parents would use a baby carriage for transportation and relied on diapers and tonics for his well-being. He still needs treatment, and his parents hope he can learn to stand and walk on his own. Recently, though, he received his first wheelchair from the Zakat Foundation of America.
Unfortunately, Moamen is not alone in his struggle. Between 76 and 85 percent of people with mental disorders in developing countries did not receive treatment last year, according to a World Health Organization survey.
Deir al-Ghusun resident Jamal Alrahman Kaadan has two sons who suffer from osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become brittle. It causes more than 8.9 million fractures a year, which is an average of a fracture every 3 seconds, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation. The elder of the two is Ashraf, 27, and the younger is 16-year-old Yazan. Yazan has a removed spleen, meaning his body is unable to filter blood on its own from the types of bacteria that can cause pneumonia and meningitis.
Similar to Moamen, Ashraf and Yazan did not grow up with wheelchairs, but they recently received their first one from Zakat Foundation of America. Their father said they are most concerned with medical follow-ups, medicines and diapers.
“We’re not asking for more than that,” Jamal said.
Zakat Foundation of America is providing medical consumables and surgery tools for their hospitals in Palestine. There is a convoy of medical aid to Zakat-sponsored hospitals in Tulkarm, including one for orphans and those with special needs. It provides medical support to 120,000 families with relatives, all without receiving financial compensation.
“In the name of the Palestinian people and all cases of disability of the Palestinian people, we thank Zakat Foundation of America on continuous and permanent donation and cushions for our people,” said Mustafa Taqatqa, deputy governor of Tulkarm.
On top of health-related support, Zakat Foundation of America aids schools and industrial facilities such as Safa Factory of the Zakat Committee in Nablus, Palestine. Zakat Foundation of America also distributed food packages to the Palestinian people in Ramadan 2016.
Zakat Foundation of America seeks to develop strong communities with safe and stable facilities so that healthcare, education, shelter, and community wellness can consistently promote social development. Click here to learn more about Zakat Foundation of America’s development programs.