Episode 24: The HEAL Clinic: Improving the lives of migrant workers and the LGBTQ community in Lebanon

Listen and watch our newest episode of The Lebanese Physicians' Podcast featuring the HEAL Clinic, an #AUBMC supported medical student and faculty driven clinic that focuses on treating and furthering the lives of migrant workers in Lebanon and the LGBTQ community.

Under the Kafala system in the country, migrant workers for the most part are under the sponsorship of their employers and it is at the discretion of the empolyer to provide them with health insurance and with basic rights. They are also living away from their families and kids for long periods of time trying to provide for them. This creates psychological and health stressors on these workers.

As for the LGBTQ community in Lebanon, there is a deficiency of laws protecting them in the country. The clinic is supported by Helem, the first not-for-profit LGBT advocacy group in the Arab world that focuses on improving the legal and social status of the LGBT community in Lebanon and lobbies for laws to protect the community. The clinic not only provides healthcare to these patients, but also seeks to provide social and psychological support, focusing on improving their quality of life and protecting their civil rights. #Migrantworkers #Kafalasystem # LGBTQcommunity #Lebanon The episode feature three medical students at AUB, Alice Recho, Marc Moukarzel, and Marwan Ghanem, and is co-hosted by Dr. MohmmadAli Jaradali.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/9b6kcOZNHOg