Each morning in the eastern countryside of Latakia, Al-Haffeh Hospital comes alive as patients from nearby villages queue outside for care they can afford nowhere else. Serving more than 180 villages, the hospital treats hundreds of people each day — many travelling long distances for urgent care.

With support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), Al-Haffeh Hospital recently received new medical equipment — including a state-of-the-art operating table, an advanced anaesthesia machine, and an X-ray device. The upgrade has strengthened the hospital’s capacity to provide safe surgeries and essential diagnostics.

“Before this support, our old machines were outdated and often broke down,” says Dr Essam Gomira, General Director of Al-Haffeh Hospital. “This equipment has helped bridge critical gaps and strengthened our capacity to serve those most in need.”

The new support from KSrelief is helping hospitals like Al-Haffeh overcome long-standing shortages, improving access to essential diagnostics and surgical care for communities in rural Latakia. To date, KSrelief has supported hospitals across Syria with more than 130 pieces of essential medical equipment – ranging from tools for surgery and diagnostics to devices used in intensive care and dialysis. This support is helping facilities overcome long-standing shortages and maintain critical health services in governorates facing high demand.

For Dr Abdullah Haydar, head of the radiology department, the new X-ray machine has been transformative. “Previously, we had to send many patients to Latakia city for imaging. Now, we can diagnose and treat them immediately. It has made a huge difference for families who cannot travel for care.”