Poverty and illness have an inverse relationship with social capital. Poverty, by narrowing a person’s outlook, creates the groundwork for various social harms and delinquency. As this phenomenon spreads, social security is undermined, and its psychological and emotional consequences affect the entire society. Therefore, serious attention to social problems rooted in cultural issues and the economic challenges of households is an undeniable necessity.

We believe that the pain of individuals in a society is not separate from one another, and that profound physical and emotional suffering, if not properly treated, will transfer to the broader community. This is where social responsibility finds its true meaning and significance.

It is no secret that not all human needs are financial in nature. Intellectual and cultural deficiencies are among the most destructive forms of need. Spiritual emptiness, loneliness, lack of affection, depression, despair, and hopelessness are issues that cannot be resolved by money alone; they require mutual individual and social understanding—something that Marham considers a top priority.

Marham believes that assistance should not be limited to financial aid or government-led actions. It is essential to create a platform where people can personally experience direct participation. Direct participation means going beyond financial contributions and offering time and expertise to help those in need.

Marham Health Call is a heartfelt movement rooted in culture, aimed at facilitating opportunities for all those who are willing and able to dedicate some of their time and expertise to meet the needs of the underprivileged. For this reason, Marham was founded on the concept of dedicating professional skills as a form of offering.

The idea of dedicating professional skills means that people from all walks of life are invited to contribute to solving societal problems—not merely through financial means, but by offering their specialized skills as part of their social responsibility. From a compassionate doctor or psychiatrist who pledges to treat a set number of patients each month, to the kind-hearted driver who dedicates half a day monthly to transport patients in need, or the student, entrepreneur, teacher, or artist who is willing to offer free classes and workshops every month—and so on.

The core focus of the National Institute of Marham Health Call’s programs is education and health promotion, and for this reason, we will speak a bit more about the field of health and medical care.

The issue of diseases in our country appears to be complex. This complexity, on one hand, reflects geographical dispersion, and on the other hand, points to the varying levels of development across different regions in terms of education, culture, society, and economy.

Developed regions are facing diseases such as diabetes, various types of cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and obesity. On the other hand, poverty-stricken areas struggle with unsafe water, inadequate nutrition, and poor public hygiene. As a result, they experience high rates of maternal and infant mortality, tuberculosis, acute infections, malnutrition, and diseases such as malaria, hepatitis, and more. Furthermore, specialists in various fields—especially in health—generally show little willingness to reside permanently in deprived or marginalized areas. Consequently, the state of healthcare in many parts of the country is unsatisfactory; headlines such as “Shortage of medical specialists and equipment in \[city name]” are frequently seen in the press. As a result, in many areas, even for a simple surgery, people are forced to travel long distances—leading to significantly higher costs for families, road-related risks, confusion in provincial hospitals, lack of accommodation for patient companions, and ultimately delays or even interruption in treatment.

In summary, our country is facing the following conditions:

  • Road and traffic accidents, various types of injuries, and on the other hand, widespread violence, conflicts, and a massive volume of daily stress

  • Widespread cardiovascular diseases, the uncontrolled rise of cancers, HIV/AIDS, and infectious diseases

  • High-risk lifestyles such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, excessive medication consumption, and poor nutrition

  • Broader social issues such as poverty, addiction, social despair and youth suicides, unemployment, homelessness, marginalization, divorce, lack of access to clean drinking water, air pollution, environmental degradation, low health literacy, and lack of health-oriented social participation

A brief overview of the healthcare sector highlights the necessity of focusing on two key points. The first is to find a wise and practical answer to the question: What should be done in response to the current diseases and injuries?

The second is to give serious attention to education and the prevention of diseases and injuries. According to a statement by the World Health Organization, even if all global resources were allocated solely to treatment, they would still be insufficient and ineffective. Hence, the well-known recommendation: “Prevention is better than cure.”

With a quick glance at today’s realities and a forward-looking view focused on both potential and existing capacities, we realize that solving the challenges in the healthcare sector requires at least two key programs:
In the short term, existing treatment needs must be addressed, as the high cost of specialized and subspecialized services places a heavy burden on households. Therefore, alongside the efforts and policymaking of government authorities, practical solutions must be considered. Without a doubt, meeting current treatment demands is a necessary step toward moving in a desirable direction.

In the long term, it is necessary to develop nationwide programs with a preventive approach, focusing on educational, cultural, and social development to empower and improve the physical, mental, and emotional health of the entire society.

Marham believes that resources should be redirected from expensive, high-tech treatment services toward affordable and accessible preventive care. From this perspective, if health promotion is defined as increasing health literacy and encompassing all activities related to the prevention of diseases, accidents, and injuries, it can be confidently claimed that all these issues can be addressed through health education and the promotion of a culture of self-care.

Thus, Marham can be summarized as: creating the foundation, consolidating, and organizing social capacities in the field of health.

And its audience: the general public—regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, or geographic location.

And its objectives are:

  1. Providing treatment for patients in need in the short term

  2. Promoting education, health, and a culture of prevention for diseases, accidents, and injuries in the long term