Project for the Rehabilitation and Operation of Ophthalmic Surgeries Theaters in the Gaza Strip
Rafah, 21/05/2024
Through the grace and guidance of God and the efforts of all those who contributed towards the success of this great project, we are pleased to announce the completion of the first phase of the relief campaign for eye patients in the Gaza Strip under the slogan “For Their Eyes!”
A specialised ophthalmology delegation concluded its visit to Gaza after 19 days of continuous work during which 209 specialised eye surgeries were performed. The surgeries included treatment of injuries and vision correction at the European Hospital in southern Gaza. Our colleagues participating in the campaign arrived safely in Jordan today,
Tuesday, 21/05.
This marks the completion of the first phase of the campaign to aid eye
patients in the Gaza Strip. The campaign was carried out in collaboration between the German-Arab Society of Ophthalmology (DAOG), the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe (PalMed), and the Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA).
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The ophthalmic surgery operating theatre at the European Hospital in Gaza has been supplied with all necessary devices, equipment, and provisions for eye surgeries, especially for cataracts and retinal injuries.
The theatre has thus been reopened, making it ready to treat all eye injuries, including eye haemorrhages, retinal detachment, and the removal of shrapnel therefrom.
Donations are still welcome to facilitate the completion of the campaign’s next phases.
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 in the south of Gaza.
In the second phase: will launch a campaign to supply portable equipment for an operating room capable of conducting essential retinal surgeries, along with necessary instruments, will be procured and transported to the designated location in the south and center of Gaza.
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In the Third phase: will launch a campaign to supply portable equipment for an operating room capable of conducting essential retinal surgeries, along with necessary instruments, will be procured and transported to the designated location in the North of Gaza.
Please join us in preserving the eyesight of many by donating through the following link:https://daophth.de/pro1
Invited by the European Parliament, a delegation from the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe – France branch – visited the European Parliament in Brussels. The purpose of the visit was to present testimonies from doctors returning from the Gaza Strip after participating in medical missions sent by the association to support the healthcare sector there.
The delegation members provided vivid testimonies illustrating the humanitarian and health challenges faced by the residents of the Gaza Strip due to the aggression against them. Additionally, the delegation distributed a press release on behalf of the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe – France branch, urging the European Union to take a strong stance to halt the aggression and contribute to bringing in more doctors and medical aid to Gaza, preventing further innocent casualties in the region.
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.
French Parliament and Assembly Hear Testimonies from The PalMed Euroep Team Returning from Gaza
In a significant session, the French Parliament and Assembly listened to testimonies from the medical team affiliated with the Palestinian Doctors Association, who recently returned from the besieged Gaza Strip.
During the meeting, members of the association, having spent 12 days in the embattled Gaza Strip, briefed French parliamentarians on the overall situation in Gaza. They highlighted the health conditions, especially in hospitals, in light of the Israeli aggression and invasion of the region. The discussion shed light on the challenges of bringing urgent medical and humanitarian aid to the population, including the healthcare sector, due to restrictions on entry.
The delegation spoke passionately about children suffering injuries to their heads or abdomens, or losing limbs. Shockingly, infants were reported to be dying within 4 or 5 hours of birth due to continuous bombardment, food shortages, and a lack of necessary medical care. The delegation anticipates a significant increase in the official death toll due to the ongoing aggression and the prevention of aid and emergency medical teams.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the delegation called on attendees to exert pressure on the French government and decision-making centers to support an end to the aggression and allow medical and humanitarian aid to enter the affected region.
In response, Mathilde Panot, a member of the French Parliament representing Region 94, Chair of the Left Committee in the French National Assembly, and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, tweeted on her official platform:
Powerful and impactful testimonies from doctors and nurses of the PalMed Association returning from #Gaza. They speak of children injured in the head, abdomen, or losing limbs. Infants are dying within 4 or 5 hours of birth. Remarkable courage from Palestinian healthcare workers. One doctor tells us that the official casualty numbers should double or triple. These words are crucial to break the silence around the hell in Gaza and urgently call for a clear direction: a ceasefire!
The specialized delegation of the Palestinian Doctors Association returns from Gaza.
Thanks to God and with His help, the delegation of the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe, safely returned on 2/5. The delegation entered the Gaza Strip on 23/1, in collaboration with the RAHMA Worldwide Foundation.
The team consisted of 22 doctors, including 12 doctors from the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe with expertise in the following medical specialties: Professor in War Medicine, Emergency Medicine Specialist, Cardiovascular Surgeon, three specialists in Resuscitation and Intensive Care, Orthopedic Surgeon, Thoracic Surgeon, Pediatric Surgeon, Gynecological Surgeon, and an Intensive Care Nurse. The association equipped the delegation with various medical supplies and equipment, enabling them to perform all the surgical operations needed by the patients.
Several doctors conducted field visits to the medical Clinic affiliated with the association, assessing their needs and discussing ways to improve their workflow under these difficult conditions.
In this context, we affirm that the Palmed Europe will continue to send medical delegations to support our fellow doctors and healthcare workers in the Gaza and to treat the injuries of our afflicted people.
Palestinian Doctors Association, Successfully Delivers Urgent Medical Aid to Gaza.
In an effort to support the people in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Doctors Association, Sweden branch, has successfully sent and delivered critical medical supplies and first aid equipment to primary care clinics and health centers in displacement centers and camps.
The branch meticulously prepared ten packages, each containing over 30 essential medical items catering to patients with hypertension, diabetes, and burns.
In this commitment, the association vows to do everything possible to alleviate the challenges faced by our people in Gaza, standing together and providing crucial assistance during this difficult time.
PalMed Europe and David Nott Foundation Doctors upskilling to help Gaza( HEST Course)
Doctors from around the world are upskilling to save the lives of those injured in the conflict in Gaza on a special course organised by PalMed Uk, led by David Nott Foundation team and hosted by the University of Bolton. The PalMed train doctors to go and work in Gaza for four days of training, led by the David Nott Foundation.
PalMed identified the doctors, whilst the foundation provided the training, which will prepare the doctors to head to the Gaza strip in Palestine to assist with saving the lives of thousands of injured civilians.
During the course, doctors from different countries and hospitals learn every field of trauma surgery including neuro, cardiovascular, abdominal, paediatric, obstetrics and gynaecology and anaesthesia, using cutting-edge teaching tools that were made by designers, in collaboration with the charity’s co-founder, renowned war surgeon Professor David Nott.
Doctors practice their techniques on Heston, a one-of-a-kind human war wound simulator, 3D-printed kidneys, silicone hearts, blood vessels, tracheas, and additional teaching models.
The training demonstrates how to deal with trauma caused in war zones, which can include anything from bomb blast and gunshot wounds to severe crush injuries caused by collapsing buildings.
One of the reasons behind the upskilling of doctors is that many are specialised doctors not equipped with dealing with the type of injuries patients may have in a war zone.
On Friday (February 2) 35 surgeons were being trained to offer their services to charities that are going into Gaza, and six anaesthetists.
More than 27,000 people have been killed and 66,000 wounded by Israel’s invasion in Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry said on Thursday.
Dr Riyadh Almasharqah: Plastic surgeon and CEO of PalMed Europe, has worked in various regional plastic surgery and burn units across the UK and abroad.
Dr Almasharqah’s says this course is vital and need more urgent than ever.
He said: “We are grateful to the people of Bolton, the University of Bolton, and the whole community who offered great support to this course. “This is the second course, with the first course being in December. and many people from the first course are already in Gaza and they provided a lot of help there. and they’re feedback about the information they got from this course has been great. So, this encouraged us to do the second course, and hopefully we will continue to do that in the future.
“It’s a really unique course. As a doctor, I have attended many courses before, but this is really structured and organised to cover all emergency aspects in every speciality’’.
“What we can see from what is happening in Gaza is that the magnitude of the need is so high. It’s beyond imagination, people are suffering a lot. The injured people are suffering, and so are the people who are displaced because they are living in shelters without food unfortunately, and no electricity, no water, and of course all of the health sector has collapsed, and kids are suffering from malnutrition, and even the elderly people’’.
“According to estimations, there are more than 40,000 women who are pregnant about to deliver and there are no proper facilities for any doctors to do any antenatal care. And for this purpose, we managed to expand a small hospital in north Rafah in Palestine. In addition to other work we did like sending the delegations and doing a mobile clinic for the displaced people.”
Chief operating officer of The David Nott Foundation Tim Law said:
“As a charity, we were about to go to Gaza in October when the news obviously broke on October 7, and the whole world has seen what’s happened since then. “But we are keen to continue to support the Palestinian people, as we are any person that is affected by conflict or other disasters.”
Tim From David Nott Foundation said: “We train medical professionals so that they can operate effectively in war zones and help patient outcomes – that is the job of our charity. “Now, if you think about most surgery, it can be very specific. So, you might train as a cardiovascular surgeon, and all you do is work on the heart and that system. But, when it comes to war you might find that you’re the only surgeon in the hospital, and there are people presenting with multiple wounds, blasts fragmentation, or all sorts of things like that, and our job is to basically help surgeons who are perhaps quite specialised, become generalists and are then able to deal with the challenges that these sort of environments present. We have some of our doctors who are on the faculty who have travelled to Gaza, who said that the people that don’t really have this grasp of the whole system of surgery are not as well able to meet the challenges that are presented to them, so in many ways, we are certain that this is the best training that you can get. And we feel that we’re backed up in that with the amount of demand there is for our courses.”
Tim added: “Many of our faculty are ex-military, so they’ve got experience of Iraq, Afghanistan, and places like that, so they know what it’s like to be in places where resources that you would have in an NHS hospital in the UK aren’t available to you.
In December, other facilities in Bolton were used by the foundation and PalMed to upskill 42 doctors, many of whom already in Gaza or planning to travel to Palestine to offer their help.
The foundation also delivered a surgical training course in Ramallah, Palestine, last July to empower doctors from across the region, and the team were due to train in Gaza in October before the war started.
Hostile Environment Surgical and Anaesthetic Training (HEST)
Surgeons and anaesthetists rapidly trained to treat trauma injuries in Gaza
PalMed UK in collaboration with the David Nott Foundation run a remarkable four-day Hostile Environment Surgical Training (HEST) course, surgeons and anaesthetists from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Qatar gathered in Bolton to learn how to treat trauma injuries in the Gaza Strip.
Organised in two weeks in collaboration with Palmed UK, 42 doctors headed for the Middle East were trained to treat complex trauma injuries incurred in the Israel-Gaza conflict. This course not only marks a significant step towards preparing medical professionals for future missions in Palestine but also reflects a shared commitment to saving lives in conflict zones.
Riyadh Al Masharqa, Plastic surgeon and CO for PalMed Europe saied:
“Thank you to the David Nott Foundation. Without them, this training would not have been possible. Together, we are organising this course to assist the people in the Gaza Strip once it is safe and travel becomes feasible. The response from numerous doctors expressing their desire to help has been overwhelming, and we are hopeful to conduct a second course in the coming weeks.”
Addressing urgent medical needs in Gaza, the course was organised in response to the pressing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Palestine. According to on-the-ground partners, medical professionals are stretched to their limits and hospitals are overwhelmed.
The group included specialists in orthopaedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatric anaesthesia, and general surgery. Some brought valuable, first-hand experience from regions affected by conflict, like Afghanistan and Syria, while others joined to grow their understanding of how to treat war wounds before heading on mission.
Dr Iman Al Mabhooh, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist consultant.
“I’m excited about expanding my skill set beyond obstetrics and gynaecology to acquire new capabilities that will benefit mothers and their infants in Gaza and the West Bank. I recognize the desperate need for assistance in this region. This course is unique as it combines obstetrics and gynaecology with trauma care. This training aims to address complex challenges comprehensively and I look forward to it.”
Our surgical HEST and anaesthesia courses were held simultaneously, demonstrating our commitment to enhancing the skills of all those striving to preserve life in the operating theatre.
Dr Douglas Philpott, Anaesthetist
“What has been great about this course is meeting people that have experienced things in the field. From the anaesthetics point of view, it’s been helpful to learn how they deal with limited resources and supplies, and we have been using airway mannequins and practicing with video scopes.”
As war continues to rage, we are working on a second surgical training course with the goal of upskilling even more frontline medical professionals. We won’t stop empowering doctors with the knowledge needed to save lives and limbs against the odds.
We Palmed Europe and UK expressing gratitude to the David Nott Foundation for orchestrating this exceptional course. We eagerly anticipate the next installment.
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.
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