Serbia: Mobile Medical Clinic

Farid Khaksar

24-year-old

Farid Khaksar is a 24-year-old from Afghanistan. The RMF Balkans team was taking a break in the office, drinking tea, while migrants were enjoying making a big snowman in front of the dormitory. Suddenly, the atmosphere completely changed. We heard a terrifying scream, and a minute later, three panicked men carried their friend into the RMF clinic with blood trailing behind them. It was clear that this was an emergency situation.

Farid had been attacked by three robbers, and while trying to defend himself, he was stabbed in the right arm. The attacker’s knife caused a very long and deep wound, and, based on the profuse bleeding, RMF clinicians assumed that one of his main arteries was injured. Slowly, Farid started to lose consciousness. The ambulance was called immediately, and doctors managed to stop the bleeding using first aid techniques. Less than an hour later, Farid was on the operation table in the ER. His brachial artery, brachial vein, and median nerve were totally severed. The doctors put forth all of their efforts in order to help him, but it was a very serious injury. Surgeons could not initially reconnect the median nerve, so Farid had to undergo a second operation a month later.

Farid knows that the damage was severe, and there is a major possibility he will never regain full use of his right hand. However, he has an enormous will to recover. For the last two months, he has been visiting a physiotherapist at the Obrenovac Health Centre every day, and it is evident that his condition is improving. Farid’s dream of becoming a tailor no longer seems unattainable, and the RMF team wishes him the best for his future.

Khan Dawod

27-year-old

Khan Dawod, a 27-year-old from Afghanistan, contacted RMF Balkans’ doctors due to a high temperature and muscle aches. During the first examination, in addition to the previously listed problems, he also had a sore throat. He started antibiotic therapy, but by his next visit, there was no improvement. He also mentioned that he felt chest pain when attempting to take a deep breath.

Despite the efforts of the RMF team, Khan’s condition continued to deteriorate. He underwent laboratory analyses and lung radiographs, which showed that he had severe pneumonia. He was examined by a lung disease specialist and began significantly more intensive therapy. Khan returns to our clinic every day to receive the treatment, and with the attention and care of the RMF team, his recovery is in progress.

Kakar Abdul Hannan

25-year-old

Kakar Abdul Hannan, a 25-year-old from Afghanistan, fell and broke his leg. His friends brought him to the RMF outpatient clinic due to the agonizing pain. With the rapid intervention of our team, Kakar was transported to the ER, and in the shortest possible time, all necessary diagnostics were performed. A left-foot radiography revealed a fracture in the left bone. The same day, he underwent surgery. During his time in hospital, Kakar received anticoagulants, analgesics, and antibiotics. In accordance with recommendations, an early rehabilitation program has been started. After five days, he returned to the camp, where his recovery was carefully observed on a daily basis.

For the next two months, our team visited Kakar every day, administering his treatment and taking care of him. Every medical control required by his orthopedic surgeon was performed without delay. Less than seven days ago, Kakar began daily rehabilitation under our supervision.

Masam Jan Swati

28-year-old

Masam Jan Swati is a 28-year-old from Pakistan. His friends brought him to the RMF clinic because of pain in the upper stomach. After taking anamnestic data and examining the patient, doctors first thought that he might have food poisoning and started treatment according to that diagnosis. He received an intravenous infusion with a couple of medications which should have improved his condition quickly. However, time was passing, and despite all efforts made by our staff, the patient’s condition was getting worse. The pain in his stomach was intensifying, his arterial pressure and body temperature were increasing, and he had vomited several times. After observing these symptoms, RMF doctors began to think that he could be suffering from atypical inflammation of the appendix.

Since the RMF clinic is not equipped for this type of condition, our doctors decided that the best choice would be to send Masam to the ER as soon as possible. This turned out to be the best solution, since diagnostic procedures conducted in the ER confirmed the diagnosis of our doctors: acute appendicitis. Because Masam was in such a serious condition, the surgeons had no other option but to operate immediately. The surgery was successful, and Masam is currently feeling much better. He returned to the Obrenovac camp, where he is slowly recovering and making plans to continue his journey to Western Europe.

Alusta Yousef

25-year-old

Alusta Yousef is a 25-year-old young man from Palestine who arrived in Serbia at the end of 2018. He initially contacted the RMF outpatient clinic for insomnia and nightmares. RMF clinicians discovered that, less than a decade ago, Alusta was held in custody for seven years. During that time, he was tortured both physically and mentally. He was not given regular meals and was given food just three times a week, mainly bread. “The judicial system did not respect basic human rights. You may find yourself waiting for a judge for few hours or couple of years,” he said to the RMF Balkans team. The conditions in the prison and the separation from his family had profound consequences on Alusta’s physical and mental health, to the point where he declared that his life was not meaningful. He added that not having his wife by his side only magnified his despair.

A psychiatrist evaluated Alusta and taught him therapy techniques to help him calm down in moments of deep sorrow. Nevertheless, despite the teamwork of the doctors, translators, and psychologists, our fears for Alusta came true. He tried to hang himself. The quick reaction of his roommates saved his life. A detailed assessment was conducted both by the psychiatrist and the team of ER doctors. Fortunately, there were no injuries to his body or internal organs, and a competent physiatrist administered therapy for Alusta, who now visits the RMF clinic daily. The therapy seems to be benefiting him, as he has been seen sitting and chatting with his friends since beginning the treatment.