Health·Video

Care for Syrian refugee children goes above and beyond

​Treating Syrian refugee children with infections, malnutrition and psychological trauma are all in a day’s work for a dedicated Toronto pediatrician.

Medical treatment for refugee children in Canada

9 years ago
Duration 3:37
This Canadian doctor has made it her medical mission to treat refugee children.

Treating Syrian refugee children with infections, malnutrition and psychological trauma are all in a day's work for a dedicated Toronto pediatrician.

When hundreds of refugees started arriving at a hotel three weeks ago, there was no plan to provide pediatric care.

 Dr. Anna Banerji, a medical school professor and infectious disease researcher with her own busy practice, initially brought in a portable table and equipment along with hand sanitizer to schedule and see sick children in a storage closet.

"This is typical," Banerji said. "We can't get medications to a kid who has strep throat, so you know what? I'll go pick it up myself."

Go behind the scenes as Banerji works with medically trained Arabic translators and borrowed or donated supplies to care for an influx of families in an overwhelmed system.