For home care workers, Retibe Bilal and Zeynep Şimşek, the past year has been a challenging one, marked by the pandemic and associated lockdowns, as well as a fair share of sorrow. However, moments of joy and hope travel far, and that’s what they are both taking with them as they look ahead, entering 2022 with hope and determination for a better year.
Retibe and Zeynep both work at a Refugee Health Training Centre in Gaziantep, Turkey, as home health care staff for the WHO Country Office in Turkey’s Refugee Health Programme, which cares for Syrian refugees in the country.
“Being part of their lives fills me with happiness”
Retibe, 41 years old and originally from Aleppo, has a motto: “learn something new and enriching every day, to propel yourself further”.
Putting words into action, she has been taking online Turkish classes since her arrival in Turkey and has not given them up despite her challenging work with the Community Health Support Staff (CHSS) team.
One thing that motivates her is the solidarity and love she witnesses daily in her work.
“I always remember this Syrian couple with disabilities whose children never left their side. I am always happy to see people sticking together, and being part of each other’s lives,” she says.
Joy takes you far, believes Retibe, but 2021 did not only bring good memories. Retibe was terrified when her mother tested positive for COVID-19.
“The whole time she spent in quarantine I was so scared to lose her. Thankfully, she is now fully recovered”, she says.
“Life has its ups and downs. Persevering to reach a goal and a purpose is the essence of happiness. In 2022, my goal is to improve my Turkish and complete a Turkish language and literature bachelor’s degree. I owe it to my immediate circle, who have been nothing but a tremendous support to me. I am grateful to have friends like that.”
“My team is like my family”
Retibe’s colleague, 23-year-old Zeynep, is another member of the CHSS team in Gaziantep, supporting and supervising work in the field. Zeynep is a graduate in home and elderly care from a vocational school.
“I always pictured myself right next to elderly patients, listening to their stories and seeing them treasure every second of their past. I have always wanted to understand my patients more and to be able to assist them. That’s why I decided to undertake formal training on how to care for the elderly.”
Making a difference as an employee of Doctors Worldwide Turkey, the Refugee Health Programme’s implementing partner, gives Zeynep a feeling of both fulfilment and empowerment.
“I feel privileged to be part of a big family where I am nourished and grow every day. I am grateful that I am here with this team today, they are my family.”
In 2021, one of her patients suffered from more serious health issues than Zeynep could assist with and needed complicated surgery. Luckily the family was able to access health care in Turkey, and the patient could be operated on in a state hospital. Personally, not being able to do more was deeply frustrating to Zeynep; “The only thing I was able to do was to be with them during their hardship, and to talk to them, at least that eased their suffering a bit. Luckily, there were also moments of happiness in 2021”.
During one of Zeynep’s scheduled home visits, a 6-year-old with cerebral palsy gently approached Zeynep, who was busy taking notes, and kissed her hand. Zeynep lifted her head up and saw that the child was smiling at her.
“That’s another unforgettable moment from 2021 that still fills my heart with joy. I put everything down and gave her a big hug. I hope that only unforgettable, heart-warming memories knock on our doors in 2022.”
Home health care service delivery
Home health care staff such as Retibe and Zeynep are employed by the project “Supporting the employment of Syrian personnel in the Turkish health sector”, funded by the German government through KfW Development Bank.
The project in Gaziantep is jointly run by the Turkish Ministry of Health, alongside Doctors Worldwide Turkey. Members of CHSS provide home health care services to Syrian refugees in Turkey who cannot access health services due to their advanced age or reduced mobility.