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Physicians For Human Rights return to the Gaza Strip
Email from Salah Haj Yahya, Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI)
assaf@phr.org.il


This month, a PHRI delegation entered the Gaza Strip for the first time
since the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis.

The situation in Gaza is dire — The Gazan health care system, which was at
the brink of collapse even prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, is
experiencing severe shortages and is at maximum capacity. Many of the
chronically ill patients we treated during our visit stated that they had to
forego treatment, as the healthcare system’s efforts have been focused on
fighting the coronavirus. To make matters worse, many are disobeying the
government’s directives by going to work so they could feed their families.

During the visit, four of PHRI’s volunteer surgeons performed 12 complex
surgeries in two hospitals — Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip and
Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Eleven of the surgeries were performed in
Nasser Hospital: three by Dr. Mustafa Yassin — Department of Orthopedic
Surgery Director at Hasharon Hospital, three by Prof. Iyad Khamaysi —
Endoscopy Unit Director at the Rambam Hospital Gastroenterology Department.
Five vascular surgeries were performed by Dr. Jamal Hijazi — a senior
vascular surgeon from Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. At Shifa
Hospital, Dr. Nidal Issa — a senior surgeon at Hasharon Hospital, performed
surgery on a 28-year-old woman with a tumor. All surgeries were performed in
partnership with the local medical staff with the aim of teaching them
innovative surgical methods which are not practiced in the Gaza Strip.

Mobile clinic in Khan Younes
Additionally, PHRI’s volunteer physicians operated a mobile clinic in Khan
Younes in collaboration with the Cancer Patient Recovery Association headed
by Dr. Salim Saqer. Two family medicine experts participated in the mobile
clinic on behalf of PHRI — Dr. Raid Haj Yahya and Dr. Arin Haj Yahya, as
well as Dr. Yasser Khatib — an orthopedics expert. About 200 patients were
examined and given medication at the mobile clinic; this included lupus and
cancer medication, as well as insulin.

Mental health training
Dr. Jamal Daqduqi — PHRI’s mental health expert — provided training to
local mental health personnel, in collaboration with Dr. Sami ‘Aweida from
the Gaza Community Mental Health Program. The training session was also
coordinated in partnership with the Gaza Ministry of Health. The training
centered on trauma and mental fortitude in the age of the coronavirus
pandemic. Fifty psychologists, social workers and medical students attended
the session. A second workshop was delivered by PHRI volunteer Dr. Mahmoud
Said together with Dr. Hisham Medalal of the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The training included a presentation of mental health services available in
Israel in comparison to those available in Gaza; thirty-five people
attended.

Delivery of medical supplies and essential drugs
PHRI’s delegation entered the Gaza Strip with medical supplies and
medication valued at 250,000 ILS. The supplies included knee and hip joint
prosthetics and assistive devices for laparoscopic, vascular, and thoracic
surgery. Dozens of types of medications were brought in as well, including
insulin and Actemra for COVID-19 patients. Medical supplies were delivered
to hospitals, with some going to the pharmaceutical department warehouse.

Meetings with health officials
In addition to providing medical care, members of the delegation met with
senior officials in the Palestinian health care system in order to be given
a first-hand account of the challenges the system is facing as it responds
to the coronavirus. The meetings were attended by the Deputy Minister of
Health in Gaza — Dr. Youssef Abu Al-Reish, Director of Pharmaceuticals and
Medical Equipment — Dr. Munir al-Burash and Head of Public Relations — Dr.
Ashraf al-Qadra. Members of PHRI’s delegation were informed during the
meeting that the Ministry of Health had decided to install the ultrasound
machine donated several weeks prior by PHRI at Nasser Hospital in the
southern Gaza Strip. The ultrasound machine is valued at approximately
200,000 USD. During the meeting, the PHRI delegation stated that under
international law Hamas is obliged to return the Israeli civilians and
soldiers located in the Gaza Strip.

Despite our best efforts, we cannot solve Gaza’s medical crisis alone. The
crisis will not be resolved without a political solution which should
include lifting the closure on Gaza and ensuring freedom of movement for
Gaza’s patients and physicians. Until then, our volunteer physicians will
return to their normal work routines in Israeli hospitals, physically just a
few kilometers away — but in what seems like an alternative universe.
Meanwhile, we at PHRI will continue to return to the Gaza Strip in order to
help the most disempowered.

To conclude, I would like to thank you — our friends and supporters — for
continuing to stand in solidarity with PHRI. Your donations are what makes
it possible for us to continue sending medical delegations, as well as
providing medications and training for Gazan healthcare professionals.

Sincerely,
Salah Haj Yahya
PHRI Mobile Clinic Director
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