In the quiet suburb of Maadi, the headquarters of Mersal resembles a buzzing beehive of energy.

Mersal is a charitable health NGO that provides free care to all nationalities and without any discrimination, including refugees, and will treat any patient, regardless of the severity of their condition. In addition, it does not use advertising to keep the data of its patients completely confidential.

It provides a wide range of healthcare and runs campaigns to support patients with specific conditions, such as its extended Story of a Voice campaign which funds cochlear implant surgeries for children in need.

Officially established in 2015, Mersal has several branches in Cairo and Alexandria, the two main cities of Egypt, but also operates throughout the country.

The activities and scope of the organization have grown tremendously in recent years, attracting local and international attention and earning accolades because of the principles that govern its activities.

After earning a masters degree and certificates in the field of project management, Heba Rashid graduated from Al-Alson faculty of Ain Shams University, she worked for thirteen years in the private sector , after which she volunteered to work in charities, in particular associations. interested in treating people with low incomes, for ten years.

Then she worked to establish her charitable foundation, Mersal, defying all the obstacles she faced, be it from patriarchal society or bureaucracy, and registered her foundation in 2015.

Ahram Online: Tell us about yourself, and what motivates the work of your NGO?

Heba Rach: I worked in the private sector until around 2014, but I lacked the motivation and passion I aspire to.

In addition to my work, I volunteered in several areas, and I felt that the area of ​​health in particular desperately needed additional help from civil society.

I started Mersal, and then and until today, I feel that some people’s lives depend on something we offer, and that’s what excites me, motivation and passion to wake up every morning.

AO: What is different about what you offer in the health service?

HOUR: The main thing is that we emphasize our principles.

First, we do not discriminate against patients; everyone has the opportunity to be helped and cared for, regardless of age, nationality or illness.

We are committed to the slogan “treatment without discrimination”.

Second, we value patient privacy very much, so we don’t talk about people’s information. We also do not reveal photos or [use them to] pin up. Our employees know that patient data and privacy are a red line.

AO: What are the current challenges of associative and voluntary work?

HOUR: Charity work in the health field has more challenges. It is expensive and requires the collaboration of doctors and specialists, and it involves many details.

The main challenge is the budget, of course, and we try to meet the needs of those on the waiting list, but unfortunately we cannot serve everyone, especially with limited resources.

The other thing is that expectations have been high after what people have seen us accomplish during the coronavirus crisis. It made them think that we are capable of anything and that we have a magic wand.

At the end, we have about 250 employees, while large charitable institutions in Egypt reach 3,000 or more employees. Our human capacity has limits.

The other challenge was that having a female head of charity – especially when I started at 34 – was problematic, but things are looking up after the trust we’ve gained year after year of course. .

AO: Mersal has been internationally acclaimed on several occasions. What was the impact?

HOUR: The Swedish, Canadian and German embassies have supported us while working during the coronavirus pandemic.

I received the Immigrant’s Friend Award from the United Nations International Organization for Migration.

Many foreign newspapers have written about us, including the Washington Post, and it is no doubt nice to feel appreciated and supported from home and abroad.

AO: Why did you start offering psychotherapy services?

HOUR: Psychological treatments began more than two years ago, after seeing an increase in the number of people with mental disorders who were unable to afford the costs of treatment and medication.

We have seen many lives threatened because of suicidal tendencies.

We now provide diagnosis and medication free of charge, and if the situation requires it, we also provide a place in a health facility free of charge.

AO: What were the unforgettable moments of working at Mersal?

HOUR: Hundreds and hundreds of cases provided many unforgettable moments.

But I do not forget, personally, a specific case that I encountered in Lebanon when I traveled in 2019 to see the conditions of Syrian refugees in the camps in the south.

It’s about a girl who lost her father in the war and then her little brother died while selling handkerchiefs on the street. Then she lost her hearing from gunshots, bombs and airplane noise, and she needed a cochlear implant.

In the institution, we have already carried out more than 300 cases of cochlear implants, but the case of this child was difficult because of her situation, the death of most of her family and her presence outside Egypt.

And I remember how the honorable Egyptian ambassador to Syria cooperated with us and facilitated the transfer of the child until the operation was carried out and we saw the joy on his face and that of his mother.

AO: What drew the world’s attention to Mersal especially during the COVID-19 crisis?

HOUR: Before COVID-19, we had experience helping people find places in emergency rooms for treatment.

So, we were pioneers in continuing this effort as much as possible during the pandemic and at its peak, we were at the forefront of this in the field of charity work.

AO: What prompted the foundation to launch a children’s hospital project when there are already many hospitals?

HOUR: The need and demand far outweigh the supply, especially in the areas of nurseries and bone marrow transplants – which cost between EGP 200,000 and 400,000.

Abu Al-Rish Hospital provides a great service, but of course the number of patients is way beyond their capacity, and we are trying to create a free children’s hospital that looks like Abu Al-Rish, and provides reduction in the cost of operations that we provide to the needy, thus ensuring continuity and sustainability.

AO: What is your hope for the future of women and charity work in Egypt?

HOUR: This year has been named by the government “the year of civil society”. That in itself is huge support, and we look forward to more support and an easing of restrictions. There are things that still happen like 30 years ago in the bureaucracy of charity workers.

Charity work has played a huge role in society at this time, so we need more facilities, everything needs to be digitized.

There should be a platform that electronically collects patient data across all charities, to ensure efficiency in charity work and non-repetition in helping one case or another .

Tremendous achievements have already taken place, but we still need more women to lead the field of entrepreneurship, and more amendments to many child support and divorce laws. Through our work, we see the suffering of Egyptian women in this regard.

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