Driven by their resolve to serve those in need, several students from the School of Pharmacy have united to support vulnerable individuals during these challenging times through various humanitarian outreach efforts.

One of these initiatives is the Medication for All project, an ongoing effort led by Pharmacy Professional Year Three (P3) students Rebecca Naddaf, Vana Mekhsi Jerjian, Maria Al Murr and Mia Raphael. Recognizing the urgent need for essential medications among those displaced by the conflict, the team set out to collect and distribute a wide range of treatments for both chronic and acute conditions. The supplies will continue to reach families temporarily sheltered in schools across Byblos, Adonis, and Beit Chabeb.

The first batch was delivered on October 11 at Soeur Assunta School in Byblos, where the student team provided 700 boxes of essential medication, including painkillers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, cold medications, antihistamines, antidiabetics, antiepileptics and asthma treatments, among others, in addition to baby formula, diapers and sanitary kits.

Naddaf described an overwhelming feeling of helplessness at first, with the expansion of the war—displacing families and destroying homes, and leading to a critical lack of food, clothing, and medications. “We then realized that even in the face of such chaos, we could make a difference,” she said.

“The purpose behind Medication for All,” explained Jerjian, “was not only to serve but to bridge divides and remind people that compassion transcends all lines.”

For Al Murr, the initiative was “born out of a deep sense of urgency and responsibility.” 

Beyond securing medications, the initiative was also about showing solidarity, as Raphael pointed out. “Standing united in a country where communities are often divided by religion and beliefs, we, as pharmacy students, understand that health knows no boundaries,” she said.

In a similar endeavor, P3 students Hadi Mrad and Tatiana Tabet, along with P4 student Aida Kalo joined the LAU mobile clinic on its October 9 mission to the Amlieh School in Ras El Nabeh. They assisted in performing medication reconciliation, filling out medication sheets, dispensing prescribed medications, and providing counseling on their use, administration, indications, and potential side effects.

Additionally, the students fielded treatment-related questions from both the medical team and patients, substituted brands with generics, proposed therapeutic alternatives as needed and depending on availability, and spread awareness on topics such as smoking cessation, hygiene practices and flu prevention, among others. They also facilitated referrals to primary health clinics where necessary.

The most recent outreach project took place on November 1 at the First Secondary Public School in Byblos, where P4 student Kevin Bosnoyan and fellow students from the Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing teamed up to provide healthcare services to families.

“Amidst the current turmoil in Lebanon, the grit and unwavering commitment of our student pharmacists to supporting their communities, demonstrate the heart of our profession and the strength of our future leaders,” said Dr. Lamis Karaoui, assistant dean for student affairs and clinical associate professor at the LAU School of Pharmacy. “I am incredibly proud of each of them for stepping up, for taking initiative and for embodying the spirit of service that defines both our university and our mission.”