Projects – The Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe

The Ophthalmological Emergency Aid in Gaza aims to restore the collapsed ophthalmology sector in the region.

The situation is dire, as many patients, including children, are experiencing blindness due to injuries and subsequent infections. The eyesight of these patients could have been preserved.

A group of eye doctors from various countries initiated efforts to revive the collapsed ophthalmology sector in Gaza. We formed a task force to evaluate the current situation, identify needs, and establish goals for the immediate, intermediate, and long terms.

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Health Situation in the Project Area:

Across the Gaza Strip, only one partially functioning ophthalmology unit performs basic trauma surgeries, such as enucleation. Surgical procedures on the posterior segment of the eye are currently impossible due to the destruction of necessary equipment.

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Objectives:

1. Prevent blindness in patients with severe eye injuries.
2. Establish new, well-equipped facilities to accommodate and manage medical cases using appropriate procedures.

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Approach and Outputs:

In the initial phase, the German-Arab Ophthalmological Society ”Deutsch-Arabische Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft (DAOG)” and PalMed Germany will launch a campaign to supply portable equipment for an operating room capable of conducting essential retinal surgeries. A fundraising campaign will seek to raise €150,000. Once the target is met, Phaco and RETINA microscopes, along with necessary instruments, will be procured and transported to the designated location.

Please join us in preserving the eyesight of many by donating through the following link: https://daophth.de/pro1

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Together, We Can Make a Difference.

Rafah, April 1, 2024

Today, doctors who took part in the fourth specialised medical delegation of PalMed, jointly with their peers in the sixth delegation of Rahma Worldwide Foundation, left Palestine through the Rafah Crossing. The joint delegation had spent two weeks providing medical aid to our brethren in Gaza at the European Hospital there. The delegation had arrived in Gaza on March 18, 2024 and consisted of 24 medical professionals equipped with medicines and necessary medical equipment and materials for performing surgeries and for the provision of urgent medical services to our Palestinian people there.

The delegation was headed by Dr Riyadh Masharqah, President of PalMed, Europe. The doctors and medical professionals specialised in:

– Paediatric surgery

– Intensive care and anaesthesia

– Vascular surgery

– Emergency surgery

– Critical care nursing

– Orthopaedic surgery

– Anaesthesia and Emergency

By the grace and guidance of God, and through their continuous efforts over the span of two weeks, the team members were able to perform dozens of surgical operations and specialised surgical interventions in all their specialties.

The Association of Palestinian Doctors in Europe – PalMed – will continue sending specialised medical delegations to the Gaza Strip to perform their professional and humanitarian duty in supporting the resilience of the dedicated medical teams there, despite the severe shortage of medicines and medical equipment, in light of the increasing numbers of casualties and injuries.

In this regard, we thank The Almighty for the safe return of our delegation members. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all donors, contributors, volunteers, and supporters, both from institutions as well as individuals, who supported the efforts of PalMed towards sending doctors and purchasing medicines and medical supplies to serve our people in Palestine.

May God reward you all with abundant goodness.

For Donation :-

Gaza Emergency Medical Appeal

Arrival in Gaza of the Fourth Specialised Delegation of the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe (PalMed) and the Sixth Delegation of Rahma Worldwide Foundation

Highlighting the unwavering commitment of our medical professionals dedicated to serving Palestine, a joint delegation of PalMed and Rahma Worldwide Foundation has safely arrived in Gaza. The delegation’s medical professionals aim to persist in their endeavours to bolster the healthcare infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian medical community and the innocent civilians there.

On Monday, March 18, 2024, a delegation comprising 22 esteemed colleagues, specialising in the fields below, arrived in Gaza for this purpose, equipped with requisite medical provisions and equipment essential for Gaza’s hospitals, including supplies for surgeries and medical services for our Palestinian brethren:

Intensive Care and Anaesthesia

Vascular Surgery

Burns and Cosmetic Surgery

Paediatric Surgery

Emergency Surgery

Intensive Care Nursing

Orthopaedic Surgery

Anaesthesia and Emergency

Leading this delegation is Dr Riyadh Masharqah, a distinguished specialist in burns and cosmetic surgery and the President of PalMed – Europe. The delegation intends to engage in a two-week mission in the Gaza Strip, conducting a series of specialised surgeries and urgent medical interventions.

Moreover, with the grace of God, PalMed pledges to continue dispatching specialised medical delegations to the Gaza Strip, fulfilling their professional and humanitarian calling in fortifying the resilience of the dedicated local medical teams there, notwithstanding the acute shortages of medicines and medical equipment required to address the escalating numbers of casualties and injuries.

We extend our heartfelt wishes for the safety of the delegation and all medical teams in the Gaza Strip, as well as for the well-being of our Palestinian brethren therein.

PalMed Academy Launches GEM Initiative to Rebuild Medical Education in Gaza

In a groundbreaking move to address the disruption caused by the destruction of health and educational institutions in Gaza, PalMed Academy, an affiliate of PalMed Europe, has officially launched the Gaza Educate Medics (GEM) initiative.

PalMed Academy, the Palestinian doctors association in Europe, has been at the forefront of efforts to resume the education of 2500 medical students in Gaza. The initiative was unveiled during a preliminary public meeting on March 9, 2024, attended by distinguished academics, consultants, and medical professionals.

Chaired by Professor Mahmoud Loubani, the meeting featured a presentation by Dr. Lubna Saghir, Consultant in family medicine, introducing the concept of GEM. The initiative aims to establish a virtual medical college, leveraging the expertise of volunteering academics and consultants worldwide to educate Gaza’s medical students. This approach allows students to follow their own syllabus and graduate from their respective colleges, preserving the institutions’ accreditation.

Dr. Riyad Masharqa, Consultant plastic surgeon and Chair of PalMed Europe, outlined the ambitious goals of PalMed and the Academy in supporting this crucial project. The operational structure of GEM, as explained by Professor Loubani, includes various committees to facilitate the implementation of the initiative. Attendees were invited to enroll in committees aligning with their expertise.

The second half of the meeting saw lively discussions and comments from professionals across America, Europe, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and the UK. Participants from the International Conference for Rebuilding Health Care in Gaza, including Professor Omar Lattuf and Professor Ruba Ali Fahmi, expressed unanimous support for the GEM initiative.

Delegates from Gaza’s medical colleges, as well as representatives from Aberdeen in Scotland, London, and Ireland, were in attendance. The GEM initiative received enthusiastic approval from all delegates, with Professor Lattuf and Professor Ruba Ali pledging their full support.

Forms for registering in GEM committees have been distributed to interested parties, and a brief outline of the initiative’s structure, along with a registration form, is available for those looking to contribute. The PalMed Academy encourages interested individuals to join before the first follow-up meeting in six weeks.

Dr. Bashier Oudeh, Secretary of PalMed Academy, stated, “We are confident there will be a great number of eminent volunteers coming forward as we extend our invitation to colleagues all over the world.”

For more information, please contact PalMed Academy through email at chair@palmedacademy.com

GEM meeting

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Cairo, 04/03/2024

Members of the medical delegation from PalMedEurope andRAHMA WORLDWIDE in the Gaza Strip have returned after a two-week medical relief mission, dedicated to serving the wounded and sick there. This is part of the ongoing efforts of PalMedEurope to support the healthcare sector in the Gaza Strip and stand by their colleagues there.

The delegation consisted of the following specialties:

Facial and eye surgery

Resuscitation and intensive care

Vascular surgery

Chest surgery

Emergency medicine

Orthopaedic surgery

Operating theater nurses

With God’s grace, the delegation brought in quantities of medicines and medical supplies for surgeries, intensive care units, and anaesthesia. They were able to perform dozens of successful surgical operations for patients and the wounded.

PalMedEurope will continue to send specialised medical delegations to the Gaza Strip, and is already in the process of sending the third specialised medical delegation soon, God Willing. This is to fulfil our professional and humanitarian duty towards enhancing the resilience of the dedicated local medical teams in Gaza and to serve our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

All thanks and appreciation to the colleagues who participated in the delegation, as well as to the donors and supporters of PalMed’s activities.

Second PalMed Delegation Safely Arrives in Gaza

In collaboration with Rahma Worldwide, PalMed’s second delegation of Palestinian doctors safely arrives in the Gaza Strip.

As part of the ongoing efforts by the Palestinian Doctors’ Association in Europe (PalMedEurope) to support the healthcare sector in Gaza and enhance solidarity with their colleagues there, and in association with Rahma Worldwide, a joint delegation of 21 medical professionals arrived today in Gaza. The team is fully equipped with necessary supplies and medications, covering various specialties, including:
·       Maxillofacial surgery
·       Anaesthesia and intensive care
·       Vascular surgery
·       Chest surgery
·       Emergency medicine
·       Operating room nurses

The Palestinian Doctors’ Association in Europe commits to sending specialised medical delegations to the Gaza Strip to provide professional and humanitarian support, reinforcing the resilience of local medical teams, despite the severe shortage of drugs and medical equipment, to cope with the increasing number of casualties due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.
We wish safety for the delegation and all medical personnel in the Gaza Strip, along with our hopes for the recovery of all patients and the injured.

Together, we heal wounds.

Rehabilitation of the Women and Maternity Department at Kuwaiti Specialised Hospital

Project Location: Rafah Governorate – Gaza Strip – Palestine

Beneficiary Category: Residents of Rafah Governorate, currently estimated at approximately 1.5 million people

Health Situation in the Project Area:

Since the beginning of the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip 119 days ago, the enemy has pursued a policy of forced displacement of the population towards Gaza’s southern governorates through various means. This includes murdering the health personnel in the northern Gaza Strip and directly targeting hospitals and health centres. With the onset of the attack on Khan Yunis Governorate in the southern Gaza Strip about a month and a half ago, most of its residents have fled it, including those who fled from Gaza and the North, towards Rafah Governorate. This led to an increase in Rafah’s population to about 5 times its original number, making the health situation in the governorate catastrophic and complex, particularly given the lack of human, medical, and logistical resources.

The latest statistics indicate the presence of more than 50,000 pregnant women in shelter centres in the Gaza Strip, with a daily birth rate of about 180 cases. The vast majority of the pregnant women suffer from malnutrition and general health problems due to the harsh conditions they experience in the shelter centres, whether in shelter schools or tents. There is no health facility in Rafah Governorate that provides women and maternity medical services except for the Emirati Hospital, which cannot cover the large number of daily cases. Statistics also indicate the presence of more than 60,000 breastfeeding women in shelter centres at the moment who are in need of immediate life-saving preventive, therapeutic, and nutritional interventions.

The Kuwaiti Specialised Hospital is deemed the most important charitable hospital that provides health services to citizens, alongside the only government hospital in Rafah Governorate. The geographic presence of the Kuwaiti Hospital in the heart of Rafah Governorate has strengthened its role, therefore placing on it the burden of providing medical services and healthcare for most of the population and displaced people in the governorate. This prompted the hospital management to take several steps, adopt necessary plans to address this crisis, and attempt to address its future consequences. One of these steps is to provide women and maternity services in the hospital.

Project Idea:

This project aims to provide women and maternity services to citizens and displaced women in Rafah Governorate. The hospital has a designated space for such a section, but it requires rehabilitation, including internal doors, windows, lighting, sanitary tools, painting, curtains, and false ceilings.

Objectives:

Contribute to providing medical services to the residents of Rafah Governorate and those displaced to it at the appropriate time and place.
Contribute to providing healthcare services to women in general and pregnant women in particular.
Contribute to providing maternity services in suitable medical conditions.

Project Justifications:

The significant emergency increase in the population of Rafah Governorate due to waves of forced migration and displacement.
The presence of more than 50,000 pregnant women in shelter centres in the Gaza Strip, with over 180 childbirth cases daily.
Most women, especially pregnant ones, suffer from malnutrition and other health effects due to the difficult conditions they experience in shelter centres and displacement camps.

Project Outcomes:

Equipped delivery room with a capacity of 2 beds.
Two postnatal care rooms, each with a capacity of 4 beds.
Obstetrician’s room and midwives’ room
Two equipped bathrooms for bathing.

Positive Impacts of the Project:

Enhancement of public health among citizens and displaced women in Rafah Governorate.
Reduction of the spread of diseases, epidemics, and postpartum complications among women.
Preservation of women’s dignity by receiving them in places suitable for providing various medical services.

Video for the Project after completion:

https://youtu.be/zIncPRCrTrQ

Together We Can.

Expansion Project of the Emergency and Ambulance Department at Kuwait Specialized Hospital

Gaza Strip – Rafah

Health Situation in Project Area:

Since the onset of the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip 100 days ago, the Zionist enemy has pursued a policy of forced displacement of the population towards the southern provinces of the Gaza Strip through various means, including the elimination of health facilities in the northern Gaza Strip and the direct targeting of hospitals and health centres. With the commencement of the attack on Khan Yunis and Central governorates in the south of the Strip over a month ago, most residents of the two governorates, as well as those displaced from Gaza and the north, have been forcefully displaced towards Rafah governorate. It has now become the largest population centre in the Gaza Strip due to its significant influx of displaced individuals. Statistics indicate that its population has reached approximately 1.3 million people, nearly four times its normal population. Consequently, the health situation in the governorate has become disastrous and complex, given the lack of human, medical, and logistical resources.

The Kuwaiti Specialised Hospital is deemed the most significant charitable hospital that provides healthcare services to citizens, alongside the only government hospital in Rafah governorate, due to the significant increase in the number of martyrs and casualties. Thus, there is an urgent need to increase the Hospital’s capacity to cope with the crisis resulting from the ongoing aggression as well as due to the congregation of most of the Strip’s citizens within its walls. Therefore, the proposal is to establish a field hospital attached to the Kuwaiti hospital to alleviate the immense pressure on its various departments.

Objectives:

Contribute towards providing medical services to the residents of Rafah governorate and those displaced to the area at the appropriate time and location.
Contribute towards addressing the significant pressure resulting from the increasing number of cases daily received by the hospital.
Contribute towards expanding the capacity of hospital departments experiencing high volume of cases.
Provide new equipped spaces to receive and handle medical cases using appropriate medical methods.

Project Justifications:

The urgent and significant increase in the population of Rafah governorate due to waves of forced displacement of residents.
The substantial increase in the number of cases received by the Hospital every day.
The urgent need to operate at maximum capacity around the clock, requiring the provision of new spaces equipped with all necessary resources, in addition to the existing spaces.

Project Components:

Medical tents (3), each tent accommodating (12) beds.

Project Outputs:

A field hospital attached to the Kuwaiti Specialised Hospital with a total area of approximately 180 square meters.
Increasing the Hospital’s bed capacity by (36) additional beds (3 tents * 12 beds per tent).

Positive Impact of the Project:

Enhancement of public health among citizens and displaced individuals.
Reduction of the spread of diseases and epidemics, especially given the severe congestion and crowding of citizens in the Rafah governorate.
Preserving the dignity of citizens by receiving them in places suitable for providing various medical services.

Video for the Project after completion:

https://youtu.be/0JvzjaTQiFc

Together We Can.

Hostile Environment Surgical and Anaesthetic Training (HEST)

In collaboration between the Palestinian Doctors Association and the David Nott Foundation, we aim to train and qualify more than 100 doctors who wish to contribute to providing relief to our people affected by the ravages of war in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Hostile Environment Surgical and Anaesthetic Training (HEST)

Developed and led by David Nott, this course is designed to enhance the skills of surgeons and anesthetists, better preparing them for the daily challenges they face in war zones and disaster-stricken areas. It also aims to assist doctors traveling to such regions.

The course equips doctors with the necessary skills to make rapid, critical decisions while preserving medical resources. It covers a range of surgical procedures and addresses common emergencies during disasters and wars, characterized by equipment shortages and a high volume of medical cases requiring urgent interventions to save lives.

Given that working in crisis zones often rules out cadaveric teaching, the HEST course relies on practical exercises, including suturing prosthetic organs and blood vessels, as well as demonstrations on our specially designed full-body simulator. We also simulate mass casualty scenarios, training our surgeons in the decision-making skills needed to prioritize patients and save lives.

The course focuses on cases associated with wars and disasters, ranging from gunshot and explosive injuries to violent injuries resulting from building collapses and fires. It also covers post-disaster procedures, including skin flaps and grafts, as well as the management of orthopedic fractures using external fixation and amputation cases.

During the course, doctors learn how to make decisions and manage emergency cases related to obstetrics and childbirth, including postpartum hemorrhage and cesarean sections.

The course spans a full four days, during which doctors can expect to cover the following specialties:

Primary and secondary survey, Damage control, Ballistics. Cardiothoracic trauma. Vascular surgery, Head and neck trauma, Paediatric surgery, Abdominal trauma, Orthopaedic surgery, Plastic surgery, Trauma in obstetrics and gynaecology.

https://davidnottfoundation.com

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Launch of Mobile Medical Clinics and Centres for The Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe to Serve Gaza.

Given the immense destruction caused by the recent aggression on Gaza, with a significant number of hospitals and health centres being destroyed and over 36 centres and hospitals rendered completely out of service, the idea of establishing mobile medical clinics plays a crucial role in providing healthcare services to the displaced. Due to the difficulty of transporting citizens to hospitals and the lack of transportation means, this project is considered a beacon of hope for our people in the besieged region. The mobile medical clinic consists of two doctors, two nurses, a paramedic, and an ambulance driver to provide appropriate treatment for 20 days each month.

This project aims to establish 40 medical points and mobile clinics, offering care to approximately two hundred thousand displaced individuals, with services reaching small communities as needed. The clinics are expected to accommodate nearly four hundred patients per day.

These objectives are designed to address the immediate health needs of displaced communities, aiming to provide essential healthcare services, minimize the risk of disease transmission, and enhance the overall well-being and safety of the displaced population. Additionally, the project aims to showcase its work through informational videos and extend its reach by establishing the Mobile health clinics and medical centres.

The project urgently requires support to provide healthcare and prevent the spread of infectious diseases within the shelter centre, especially in the challenging conditions our people are facing as winter sets in.

Project Goals:-

Main Objective:

Contribute to improving the health conditions of displaced populations within shelter centers.

Subsidiary Objectives:

Ensure the provision of healthcare services to displaced individuals within shelter centers.
Prevent the spread of diseases and epidemics.
Safeguard the well-being of displaced individuals and alleviate financial burdens.

Produce introductory videos about the mobile clinics and their operations during the first month – Gaza.

The United Kingdom Clinics

The Sweden Clinics

The Turkey Clinics

The France Clinics

In this context, we affirm that as a collective, we remain fully prepared to meet the health needs of our people, supporting their resilience. We will continue to work and collaborate with international and local institutions for this purpose.

DONATE NOW

Older Posts

The Ophthalmological Emergency Aid in Gaza aims to restore the collapsed ophthalmology sector in the region.

The situation is dire, as many patients, including children, are experiencing blindness due to injuries and subsequent infections. The eyesight of these patients could have been preserved.

A group of eye doctors from various countries initiated efforts to revive the collapsed ophthalmology sector in Gaza. We formed a task force to evaluate the current situation, identify needs, and establish goals for the immediate, intermediate, and long terms.

.

Health Situation in the Project Area:

Across the Gaza Strip, only one partially functioning ophthalmology unit performs basic trauma surgeries, such as enucleation. Surgical procedures on the posterior segment of the eye are currently impossible due to the destruction of necessary equipment.

.

Objectives:

1. Prevent blindness in patients with severe eye injuries. 2. Establish new, well-equipped facilities to accommodate and manage medical cases using appropriate procedures.

.

Approach and Outputs:

Please join us in preserving the eyesight of many by donating through the following link: https://daophth.de/pro1

.

Together, We Can Make a Difference.

May God reward you all with abundant goodness.

For Donation :-

Arrival in Gaza of the Fourth Specialised Delegation of the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe (PalMed) and the Sixth Delegation of Rahma Worldwide Foundation

Intensive Care and Anaesthesia

Vascular Surgery

Burns and Cosmetic Surgery

Paediatric Surgery

Emergency Surgery

Intensive Care Nursing

Orthopaedic Surgery

Anaesthesia and Emergency

Leading this delegation is Dr Riyadh Masharqah, a distinguished specialist in burns and cosmetic surgery and the President of PalMed – Europe. The delegation intends to engage in a two-week mission in the Gaza Strip, conducting a series of specialised surgeries and urgent medical interventions.

We extend our heartfelt wishes for the safety of the delegation and all medical teams in the Gaza Strip, as well as for the well-being of our Palestinian brethren therein.

PalMed Academy Launches GEM Initiative to Rebuild Medical Education in Gaza

In a groundbreaking move to address the disruption caused by the destruction of health and educational institutions in Gaza, PalMed Academy, an affiliate of PalMed Europe, has officially launched the Gaza Educate Medics (GEM) initiative.

Delegates from Gaza’s medical colleges, as well as representatives from Aberdeen in Scotland, London, and Ireland, were in attendance. The GEM initiative received enthusiastic approval from all delegates, with Professor Lattuf and Professor Ruba Ali pledging their full support.

Dr. Bashier Oudeh, Secretary of PalMed Academy, stated, “We are confident there will be a great number of eminent volunteers coming forward as we extend our invitation to colleagues all over the world.”

For more information, please contact PalMed Academy through email at chair@palmedacademy.com

Cairo, 04/03/2024

Second PalMed Delegation Safely Arrives in Gaza

Rehabilitation of the Women and Maternity Department at Kuwaiti Specialised Hospital

Project Location: Rafah Governorate – Gaza Strip – Palestine

Beneficiary Category: Residents of Rafah Governorate, currently estimated at approximately 1.5 million people

Health Situation in the Project Area:

Project Idea:

Objectives:

Contribute to providing medical services to the residents of Rafah Governorate and those displaced to it at the appropriate time and place.

Contribute to providing healthcare services to women in general and pregnant women in particular.

Contribute to providing maternity services in suitable medical conditions.

Project Justifications:

The significant emergency increase in the population of Rafah Governorate due to waves of forced migration and displacement.

The presence of more than 50,000 pregnant women in shelter centres in the Gaza Strip, with over 180 childbirth cases daily.

Most women, especially pregnant ones, suffer from malnutrition and other health effects due to the difficult conditions they experience in shelter centres and displacement camps.

Project Outcomes:

Equipped delivery room with a capacity of 2 beds.

Two postnatal care rooms, each with a capacity of 4 beds.

Obstetrician’s room and midwives’ room

Two equipped bathrooms for bathing.

Positive Impacts of the Project:

Enhancement of public health among citizens and displaced women in Rafah Governorate.

Reduction of the spread of diseases, epidemics, and postpartum complications among women.

Preservation of women’s dignity by receiving them in places suitable for providing various medical services.

Video for the Project after completion:

Together We Can.

Expansion Project of the Emergency and Ambulance Department at Kuwait Specialized Hospital

Gaza Strip – Rafah

Health Situation in Project Area:

Objectives:

Contribute towards providing medical services to the residents of Rafah governorate and those displaced to the area at the appropriate time and location.

Contribute towards addressing the significant pressure resulting from the increasing number of cases daily received by the hospital.

Contribute towards expanding the capacity of hospital departments experiencing high volume of cases.

Provide new equipped spaces to receive and handle medical cases using appropriate medical methods.

Project Justifications:

The urgent and significant increase in the population of Rafah governorate due to waves of forced displacement of residents.

The substantial increase in the number of cases received by the Hospital every day.

The urgent need to operate at maximum capacity around the clock, requiring the provision of new spaces equipped with all necessary resources, in addition to the existing spaces.

Project Components:

Medical tents (3), each tent accommodating (12) beds.

Project Outputs:

A field hospital attached to the Kuwaiti Specialised Hospital with a total area of approximately 180 square meters.

Increasing the Hospital’s bed capacity by (36) additional beds (3 tents * 12 beds per tent).

Positive Impact of the Project:

Enhancement of public health among citizens and displaced individuals.

Reduction of the spread of diseases and epidemics, especially given the severe congestion and crowding of citizens in the Rafah governorate.

Preserving the dignity of citizens by receiving them in places suitable for providing various medical services.

Video for the Project after completion:

1. Prevent blindness in patients with severe eye injuries.
2. Establish new, well-equipped facilities to accommodate and manage medical cases using appropriate procedures.