Professional commitment to medicine and a sense of duty to their fellow Gazans have led some doctors to set up treatment tents on the streets of refugee camps.
By Alistair Bunkall, Middle East correspondent @AliBunkallSKY
Sunday March 3, 2024, 6:39 a.m., United Kingdom
Doctors in Gaza told Sky News the situation was “catastrophic” and disease was spreading in refugee camps, particularly among children.
So many hospitals in Gaza are now either closed or on the verge of collapse that doctors have set up treatment tents on the street with what little supplies they can get their hands on.
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Dr. Rajaa Okashah is a pediatrician from the northern Gaza Strip who was forced by the fighting to leave his home and move south to Rafah.
It is only his professional commitment to medicine and his sense of duty to his fellow Gazans that keep him going. His practice is now a tent – a street clinic in a refugee camp.
“I decided to open this medical tent to provide them with free medicine and treatment, especially since the health system in Gaza now lacks hospitals and health centers,” said Dr. Okashah told Sky News.
“The situation in the camp is almost catastrophic. The food is not clean, people drink salt water because there is no fresh water, and viruses and bacteria are worryingly widespread among children due to their weak immunity.”
“There are epidemics like hepatitis A. The situation is so bad here in this camp.”
More than 20,000 babies have been born in Gaza since the war began.
Image: The provisional operation by the pediatrician Dr. Rajaa Okashah
Dr. Okashah said: “The most difficult conditions I treat are respiratory problems. Oxygen is important for children. Breathing problems are common in children, especially newborns aged three months and less than one month.”
“We have babies who can’t breathe. Such illnesses require hospitalization.” [but] Unfortunately, the hospitals here are full.
“In the only children's hospital in Gaza there are three to four children per bed. Now children sleep on the floor, so breathing problems and chest infections are most difficult in babies younger than three months.”
Image: People are queuing in front of the treatment tent
Medicines must be rationed to the patients who need them most. Hospitalization is only an option in the most urgent cases. There has been a dramatic increase in postnatal depression among new mothers.
Dr. Muhammad al Raqeb, a young gynecologist from Khan Yunis, sees between 50 and 70 expectant mothers in his tent every day.
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“The cases I have to refer are, for example, severe bleeding or cases where their life is threatened by a cause or disease. Then I take care of the basic care and transfer her by ambulance.”
“They are suffering a lot, you know, their conditions are not suitable for them during pregnancy or after delivery. You need good, clean water at all times. You need clean bathrooms, and these things are not available. That’s why many suffer from urinary tract infections, pneumonia and skin diseases.”
Image: Gynecologist Dr. Muhammad al-Raqeb
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Dr. al Raqeb added: “They are born in extreme or poor conditions. In many, many cases they die because they are not treated properly during their pregnancy and that is why they deteriorate. Sometimes they even lose their uterus.”
“You know, maybe they say Gaza is a place of death, but I know Gaza is a place of life. Gaza will never lose hope. And that[medizinische[Zelt]is just a place to spread hope.” Just spread the smiles to spread health.[medical[tentisjustoneplacetospreadhopeandjustspreadthesmiletospreadhealth”[medical[tentisjustoneplacetospreadhopeandjustspreadthesmiletospreadhealth”
Image: Dr. al Raqeb says: “Gaza will never lose hope”
Without the doctors' efforts in Gaza, the death toll would undoubtedly be much higher. They are waging their own war: a war for medicine, clean water and space to work safely. The line between life and death in Gaza is frighteningly thin.