Shortage of health centres in Afrin leads to the spread of Leishmania
June 12, 2019, 6:59 pm

Shortage of health centres in Afrin leads to the spread of Leishmania

There have been many severe cases during recent months among the people in the villages of Afrin suffering from leishmania disease - or, as is known in slang language (Aleppo acne) -. The situation becomes worse because these villages are far from the centre of Afrin city, with a complete shortage of treatment centres which treat this germ.

This disease is concentrated in the villages of Raju, Belbel and Maidanki, which is about 35 km away from the centre of Afrin. It is a mountainous and rugged area, and its inhabitants depend on the local centres to obtain their needs. The main reason behind this disease is that the rubbish is transported in irregular periods, where it is collected in centres close to these villages, which led to leishmania spread.

Sawsan Sheikho a school teacher in Hajiko Fuqani in Raju district, told the Levant News about the spread of the disease: "there are several conditions that have contributed in the increasing number of cases of Leishmania germs. One of those conditions is the primitive nature of these villages in terms of sewage systems and the absence of municipal councils".

She added: "the distance between these villages and the city centre, and its mountainous roads, alongside the increasing of temperature, preceded by climatic changes that formed swamps after heavy rains at the beginning of the summer, all those factors created a suitable environment for mud wasp".

Regarding the number of injuries, Sawsan pointed out that most are from children, for example,80 pupils from 200 in her school have been affected, in addition to many injuries among adults in these villages where there are no treatment centres or campaigns to stop the spread of these germs among the residents.

We tried to get an accurate number of casualties and official statistics for all the villages of Afrin, but that was impossible because of lack in offices which follow up the cases and the dependence on Turkish institutions, especially after the military operation "Olive Branch" and the control of armed factions supported by Turkey on Afrin, in addition to the difficulty of obtaining official permits from them.

"Mahmoud al-Khalid," one of the displaced people from northern Homs who inhabited these villages under the reconciliation agreement, stated to the Levant News: "this virus has recently spread significantly, and the treatment is considered too expensive in case the patient has transportation, adding that the journey to travel to the treatment centre takes about two hours and it costs five thousand Syrian pounds, and the patient needs about ten sessions per month, and this is out of our financial capacity. Confirming that those who do not have transportation and money for treatment are getting worse. The case might develop to skin oedema, and might get worse because of primitive treatment methods such as wild herbs.

In spite of this disease existence a long time ago, the deteriorating condition of the medical foundation has worsened this situation and turned it into a disaster that might be difficult to control in future.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.