Hala Naji
Vice Chairperson
BASMA is a non-profit organization, founded in 2006 and the only association in Syria specialized in pediatric cancer patient care and treatment, that provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary free treatment for all children and adolescents with cancer enrolled at BASMA pediatric Oncology Unit, approximately 720 patients per year).
The story began at the end of 2003.
Mayya Assaad, BASMA’s co-founder and first president, was visiting a young girl, Miriam, from the center for abandoned children where she was volunteering. Miriam was admitted for diagnosis in the cancer unit of the Children’s Hospital in Damascus, the only children’s cancer unit with 34 beds in Syria. The diagnosis revealed that Miriam did not have cancer. However, the sight of the unit’s grey walls and the fear in the children’s eyes were heart breaking. Their mothers or fathers were not allowed to stay with them. The nurses were understaffed and with no compassion. Mayya said she will never forget this day.. A year later, twelve of her volunteer friends joined her to help in this enormous mission. They often faced frustration and disappointment because they knew that the needs of the children’s treatment were still greater than whatever they could offer.
BASMA Programs:
1- Financial Support Program: BASMA has provided financial support to 7,203 children with cancer from various regions in Syria since its establishment in 2006.
2- Psychological Support: BASMA recognizes the importance of psychological support for both the children with cancer and their families. Offering emotional and psychological assistance is crucial in the holistic care of cancer patients.
3- Community Awareness: BASMA’s efforts in raising awareness in the community play a vital role in educating people about childhood cancer, early detection, and the support available.
4- Accommodation for Parents: Providing accommodation to parents who need to travel to Damascus for their children’s treatment at The Children’s Hospital is a compassionate service. This eases the financial burden on families with limited resources.
5- Sponsoring a Child’s Treatment in the private sector: BASMA’s sponsoring of 686 children’s treatment in the private sector so far indicates a commitment to ensuring that children receive the best available care.
6- BASMA Paediatric Onvology Unit provides a comprehensive range of medical services, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, supportive care, surgeries, radiation therapy, and intensive care. This comprehensive approach ensures that children receive the best possible care for free.
Mission Statement:
BASMA seeks to improve the health and social conditions of children with cancer in Syria, by providing psychological and moral support to children and parents during the treatment period, as well as financial support for treatment costs.
BASMA provides medical support to children with cancer units in order to upgrade the medical services rendered to children, promote setting up new units, and increase community awareness of pediatric cancer.
By the end of 2005, medicines were provided for families and weekly visits were conducted to cheer the children. However, the team realized that they needed to form a more organized structure for their work and then BASMA (BAttling to SMile Again), which means “smile” in Arabic was born in April 2006.
BASMA is the first nation-wide NGO that supports children with cancer and their families in Syria.
BASMA founders were:
Abdul Salam Haykal, Chadan Naji, Khaled Alfawal, Mai AlBarazi, Mayya Assaad, Nour El Houda Aladas, Rania Khaddour, Rasha Nehlawi, Roula AlHamoui,
Samer Tello, Souheir Boulad, and Tharaa Mustafa
