Snapshot of PalMed UK and PalMed Academy Event 9 December 2024
PalMed UK and PalMed Academy hosted an inspiring event at Nottingham Medical School titled “Stories of a Surgeon in Palestine“. The event featured Dr. Mohammad Hawari, a PalMed member and surgeon who visited Gaza during the ongoing conflict.
Dr. Hawari shared a powerful testimony about the dire medical situation in Gaza, highlighting the challenges faced by healthcare workers and patients amidst the devastation. Over 100 students and staff attended the event, attentively listening to his firsthand account of the humanitarian crisis and the efforts made by PalMed UK to support innocent civilians affected by the atrocities.
Dr. Hawari detailed PalMed’s tireless 14-month mission to provide aid and medical assistance to the people of Gaza, calling attention to the urgent need for global solidarity. He also introduced the GEM initiative, which aims to support medical students and strengthen Gaza’s healthcare system through education and innovation.
Together, we can make a difference. Help us support the people of Gaza and Palestine.
On Saturday 7 December the Scottish Palestine Health Partnership held its second annual conference at Glasgow University.
Over 100 delegates attended .
Palmed Uk and PalMed Academy was there.
PalMed was represented by Drs Eman El-Bahnasawi and Dr Vivian Badr .
Dr Bashier Oudeh ( SPHP executive ) chaired the second session of the meeting, and introduced Professor Mahmoud Loubani, who presented an update on the GEM scheme , this received a lot of interest and Prof Loubani answered a few questions after his lecture.
PalMed Academy and GEM initiative launched and conducted her very first GEM mentorship course for both students and mentors.
This morning was opened by Tareq Abdel-Jawwad who is a currently displaced fifth year medical student at Al-Azhar University in Gaza who gave us an introduction to the ongoing crisis and context under which the GEM scheme is operating with, as well as sharing his own experience as a Gazan medical student and his experience so far with GEM.
Then GEM team given a brief introduction to the GEM scheme by the CEO of GEM, Professor Mahmoud Loubani who touched on the structure of the scheme as well as the ongoing need of the GEM scheme.
The workshops on the theory and application of mentorship was delivered by Lucy Vere who has had over 20 years of experience training NHS staff and organisations during which attendees were given practical advice and basic communication tools on which can use to build and advance their mentor-mentee relationship.
In the afternoon, the lead mentorship co-officers Khansa Irfan and Dr. Elyanna Choi shared their backgrounds and motivations for participating in this scheme.
The panel saw our distinguished speakers Prof. Nidal Moukaddam, Mr. TIm Goodacre, and Dr. Riyadh Almasharqah discuss the challenges of mentorship in a hostile environment for both students and mentors, the psychological and emotional toll of mentorship in our current context, as well as stories of resilience, hope, and advice for mentors involved in the GEM mentorship scheme.
With the Participation of Leading Doctors and International Experts: PalMed Holds an Academic Conference to Support Medical Students in Gaza.
London, 23 November 2024
In light of the challenging circumstances in Gaza, PalMed Academy of PalMed Europe – the Palestinian Doctors’ Association in Europe held an academic conference on Saturday, 23 November 2024, at the Royal Society of Medicine in London. The conference was attended by international medical experts with experience in education and medical training especially in Gaza., the conference, titled “Resurrecting Medical Education in Gaza: Challenges and Solutions,” addressed the severe challenges facing Gaza’s medical education due to the blockade and destruction of healthcare and educational infrastructure.
The conference featured discussions and presentations emphasising innovation of the Gaza Educate Medics led by PalMed Academy and the role of international networks in supporting medical education in Palestine.
Dr. Hussam Adwan,Consultant Surgeon at Wirral University Hospital in the UK and conference chair, said:
“Your participation today fuels the flame of hope not only for students and faculty but for all residents of Gaza.”
Dr. Mohammed Zughbar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Azhar University, delivered an opening lecture comparing medical education in Gaza before the war with its current state. He highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict on the educational system and its broader societal implications.
Dr. Riyad Masharqah, Chair of the Advisory Council of the Palestinian Doctors’ Association in Europe, praised the resilience of Gaza’s medical students and emphasised that this initiative aims to ensure their future, maintain the continuity of medical faculties, and address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals.
Professor Mahmoud Loubani, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Chair of Palmed Academy and CEO of the GEM scheme, stated: “This initiative, under the GEM program, is an investment in Gaza’s future. It ensures the continuity of medical education and the availability of qualified medical personnel to serve the community.”
Since its launch in June 2024, the initiative has enrolled over 2,101 students with the support of more than 1,000 international volunteers offering lectures and assistance through an integrated educational platform. A mentorship scheme for the students of Gaze was unveiled at the conference to commence on the 7th December 2024.
The conference highlighted the struggles faced by Gaza’s medical schools, including the destruction of infrastructure and severe shortages of educational and medical resources. Before the recent conflict, nearly 2,500 students were enrolled in medical faculties at Al-Azhar and Islamic universities.
Dr. Anwar Sheikh Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Islamic University of Gaza, remarked:
“The destruction of medical education infrastructure threatens not only students’ futures but also the entire healthcare system in Gaza.”
A Global Message of Solidarity
Prominent international figures attended the conference, including Professor Mads Gilbert, the renowned Norwegian humanitarian, and Professor Nick Maynard from Oxford as well as a host of prominent educationalists and academics.
Students from Gaza joined remotely, with Lina Abuhein discussing the daily challenges they face and their essential needs for continuing their education. Tariq Abdel Jawad, from the the GEM Students’ Engagement Committee, shared how students contributed to hospitals during the war, underscoring the hope that international support provides for their education and service to their community.
Charity Dinner
The academic day concluded with a charity dinner, where attendees raised over $150,000 to support the initiative. The main guest speaker and guest of honour at the dinner was Dr. Husam Zomlot, Palestine’s ambassador to the UK who endorsed the initiative and emphasised education as a means of resilience for Palestinians through the decades of occupation.
Palmed Academy: A Vision for Sustainable Medical Education
Founded in 2022, Palmed Academy is the educational arm of the Palestinian Doctors’ Association in Europe, aiming to enhance healthcare in Palestine through education and training. The academy collaborates with international universities and institutions to provide advanced learning materials and training programs.
Through these efforts, PalMed Academy and its partners aim to preserve medical education in Gaza as a cornerstone of Palestinian resilience amidst ongoing challenges imposed by the blockade and conflict.
This week we delivered medicines and medical supplies that where purchased with donated funds.
Tuesday, 24.09.2024
With God’s grace and praise, the another shipment of medicines has arrived in southern Gaza, in cooperation between Palmed branches in Sweden, France, Denmark, and Norway, along with the Norwegian Aid Committe ( NORWAC) and the World Health Organization.
As part of its health education and psychological support activities, the medical center and mobile clinincs affiliated with Palmed in (Al-Qarara) organized a day of psychological support and entertainment for children at the “Hope Initiative” school, in collaboration with Emphent Center.
These educational and psychological support activities are conducted weekly and regularly by Palmed Euroep at the medical center to raise health awareness and improve the psychological well-being of displaced persons.
Amid the difficult conditions faced by our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the limited resources available in the remaining functioning public and private hospitals, which are inundated with injured and wounded Palestinians, many non-emergency surgeries for numerous patients have been put on hold.
In this context, the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe – PalMed / Turkey, has launched a new medical project to fund 100 surgeries for injured and displaced individuals in the Nuseirat area and the central governorates of the Gaza Strip, where the largest number of our displaced brethren is located.
This project aims to facilitate and expedite surgeries for those in need, who are on waiting lists, and to support and employ medical staff working in private medical centres in the Gaza Strip.
With the Grace and Blessings of God, the project has commenced by performing several surgeries at Al-Raazi Medical Centre for some of the injured and patients. In this regard, we thank members and friends of PalMed who have supported this project and our other medical initiatives. We ask The Almighty for a speedy and full recovery for all our patients and injured, and for the safety of our bereaved people.
We are pleased to announce the opening of the fourth medical clinic by the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe, Turkey Branch, in the heart of Gaza City, specifically in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. The city faces a severe healthcare crisis due to the scarcity of operational health facilities and the challenges of accessing them. This clinic will provide essential medical services to residents of Sheikh Radwan, Al-Nasr, West Gaza, Al-Shati refugee camp, and surrounding areas.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all colleagues and supporters who contributed to the success of this project and other ongoing medical initiatives by the association. We pray for the swift relief of our people, healing for the injured and sick, and safety for everyone.
PalMed France has funded a project to purchase infant formula, which is currently unavailable in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict and Israeli force bannig the enterance of baby milks and Fourmula. With a budget of €10,000,we have secured and delivered a supply of formula to Gaza in collaboration with Save the Children’s Gaza. The formula is being distributed through medical centers across Gaza.
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.
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