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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

 

   

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Press Release

Unprecedented Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds at Nasser Medical Complex by Israeli Occupation Forces

In a shocking display of disregard for human life, the Israeli occupation has transformed the Nasser Medical Complex into a military barracks, rendering it non-operational and exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. Medical staff, dedicated to saving lives, have been subjected to reprehensible treatment-bound for extended periods, physically assaulted, beaten, and stripped of their clothing within the confines of the maternity building.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Israeli forces have arrested a staggering 70 healthcare professionals at the hospital, leaving a mere 25 staff members struggling to cope with cases requiring intensive clinical care. The arrest of the intensive care doctors further compounds the tragedy, leaving critical cases without proper medical oversight. Disturbingly, dozens of bedridden and helpless patients, already undergoing treatment, were forcibly removed from the complex, endangering their lives and well-being.
The appalling conditions are exacerbated by the intentional cutting off of electricity to Nasser Medical Complex for three days, resulting in the interruption of oxygen supply. Tragically, seven patients have already succumbed to the consequences, and there are fears for the lives of dozens currently in critical care. Moreover, the suspension of generators has left the complex without water, food, and hygiene, creating oppressive and unsafe conditions for the three women, one of whom is a doctor, who gave birth within its walls. As sewage water floods emergency departments, the Israeli occupation refusal to coordinate repairs further compounds the suffering. The international community is urged to condemn these reprehensible actions, as we hold the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the lives of medical teams and patients at Nasser Medical Complex.


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