The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners on Sunday visited two hospitals in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where health workers are struggling to provide essential services amid the growing health needs caused by the ongoing hostilities.
With the conflict in Gaza now exceeding 300 days, the health system is on the brink of collapse. Of the 36 hospitals in the region, 16 are only partially operational, hampered by security concerns and nearby damage.
Officials of the WHO visited the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City and the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, to deliver necessary medical supplies and evacuate critically ill patients.
"WHO has conducted the mission successfully to North Gaza and Gaza City. We have been at Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al Ahli Hospital to achieve the following objectives. First, to deliver critical IPC (infection prevention and control) supplies and materials to Kamal Adwan and Al Ahli hospital(s). Second, to conduct assessment for expanding the capacity of both hospitals. Last but not least, to evacuate six critical pediatric cancer patients from northern Gaza to Nasser medical complex. Those patients are critically ill, and they need to be evacuated abroad. WHO continuously support hospitals and the health care system," said Dr. Noor Al Whaidi, Emergency Officer of the WHO.
Rania, mother of a referral patient, expressed her emotions. She was "extremely happy" that her son could have the opportunity to receive treatment, but she was still worried about her other children left behind.
"I am extremely happy for my son that he's finally traveling out for treatment. It was a great joy for me when they have informed me that my son is traveling the next day for treatment, as it would not matter to me if I were the one who’s going to accompany him or his grandmother or someone else for that matter. It is indeed a great joy for me that he's going to get treated, but also what should I do with my other children who I left alone during this war," she said.
Rashida, mother of another referral patient, shared the same joy as Rania.
"He [Rashid's son Ibrahim] has diabetes insipidus, pituitary gland failure, and white blood cell disorder. I am very happy that he is finally going to get treatment, because he suffered a lot, and there is a possibility that there are tumors spreading throughout his body. I suffered a lot during this war due to the lack of treatment, recently treatment for diabetes insipidus became available, but chemotherapy is not, and tumors are spread throughout his body. Indeed I'm very glad that he's traveling for treatment," she said.
Omar, a referral patient at Al Ahli Hospital, spoke of his relief at being able to leave Gaza for treatment.
"I had cancer in my left arm, and it was amputated, and after a while I started having swelling here, therefore I am traveling out to follow up on my treatment. I felt extremely happy that I am going to travel for treatment, because I suffered in Gaza, I've lived with an unbearable amount of pain," he said.
WHO officials visit Gaza hospitals to deliver supplies, evacuate patients
WHO officials visit Gaza hospitals to deliver supplies, evacuate patients
WHO officials visit Gaza hospitals to deliver supplies, evacuate patients
WHO officials visit Gaza hospitals to deliver supplies, evacuate patients
