Journal – Page 2 – The Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe

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.

For more information about GEM and PalMed Academy:- www.Palmedacademy.com

Togeter, We can.

The project for the maintenance and reactivation of ambulances in Gaza, funded by the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe, has begun in coordination with the Ministry of Health in Gaza and under the supervision of Dr. Ahmed Abou Nada, Director of the association’s Gaza office.

Project Overview:

The project involves the repair and rehabilitation of 39 ambulances and 15 transport vehicles that require spare parts for maintenance and to be operational again.

1. Objective: To supply spare parts for the ambulances and transport vehicles of the Ministry of Health.
2. Scope of Work: The project includes both the provision of spare parts and the execution of necessary maintenance work.
3. Purpose: This project addresses the critical need for spare parts to restore the Ministry of Health’s ambulance and transport vehicle fleet.
4. Phases: The project will be carried out in **two phases**:
– Phase 1: Provision of spare parts.
– Phase 2: Maintenance of the ambulances and transport vehicles.

Togeter, We can.

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.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1272123550484468

Restoration of European Hospital, Gaza.

Palmed, in collaboration with local partners, has been spearheading the European Hospital Renewal Project. The project aims to fully rehabilitate the hospital and bring it back to full operational capacity. Thanks to this effort, the hospital’s electrical network has been restored, and the oxygen generator center has been reopened, enabling critical care services to resume.

Project Stages:

Stage 1: Restoration of the hospital’s electrical network.
Stage 2: Reopening of the oxygen generator center.
Stage 3: Currently underway, focusing on continued renovations across all hospital departments and facilities.
This project has brought new hope to the region, providing patients with access to healthcare services that are vital to the community’s well-being. Palmed remains committed to the long-term sustainability of the Health system in Gaza and the enhancement of medical services in the area.

Following two months of closure, the European Hospital in Gaza was successfully reopened on August 25th, with the dedicated support of Palmed . This reopening marks a vital step in restoring essential healthcare services to the people of Gaza after the hospital’s complete evacuation and closure on July 2nd.

Get Involved:

Your support is crucial to our mission. With your contributions, we can continue to progress through the next stages of the European Hospital Renewal Project and ensure a sustainable healthcare future for Gaza.

DONATE NOW

Together, we can.

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).

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.

https://www.daophth.de/pro3

>

Together We can.

WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-29-at-11.11.34-2-1200x676.jpeg

Monday, 29/04/2024

Rafah Crossing – Egyptian Side

After spending two weeks of volunteer service in hospitals in the north and south of the Gaza Strip, members of PalMedEurope’s fifth specialised international delegation left Palestine today, Monday, and arrived at the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing.

By the Grace and Guidance of God, consultant colleagues in the following specialties: (Intensive Care and Anaesthesia – Vascular Surgery – Burn and Cosmetic Surgery – Emergency Surgery – Intensive Care Nursing – Orthopaedic Surgery – Anaesthesia and Emergency) were able to perform dozens of specialised surgical operations and interventions for the wounded and patients from among our people in the Gaza Strip. The delegation also managed to deliver quantities of medical supplies, devices, and medications urgently needed for Gaza’s hospitals.

In this regard, we extend our thanks and appreciation to colleagues and members of the delegation and to all donors and supports of PalMedEurope’s activities who contribute towards the success of our delegations’ missions, and the delivery of medications, and medical equipment. Special thanks also go to PalMed’s office in Gaza and to our dedicated colleagues and medical staff working in the Strip’s hospitals.

We also extend our gratitude to Rahma Worldwide Foundation with whom our delegations that reached the Strip joined ranks. We affirm that PalMedEurope will continue to equip and send medical delegations, and to arrange and implement sustainable relief projects to support the health sector there until Gaza’s hospitals return to a better state than they were before Israel’s barbaric aggression against Gaza and its sustained targeting of its health sector, God Willing. We pray to the Almighty to dispel the injustice and aggression that Israel continues to perpetrate against our people as soon as possible.

Amen!

Together, we can.

Monday 15/04/2024
Rafah – Palestine

Continuing in its medical relief efforts for the helpless and innocent civilians being murdered and maimed by Israel for more than six consecutive months, the fifth delegation of the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe (PalMed) has arrived in the Gaza Strip. The team comprises eight medical specialists who will toil towards alleviating the suffering of the civilians there by supporting the healthcare sector and its dwindling number of specialists due to being systematically targeted by Israel. The team is travelling as part of Rahma Worldwide Foundation’s eighth delegation and via coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

PalMed’s fifth specialised delegation consists of consultants in the following specialisations:

· Intensive care and anaesthesia
· Vascular surgery
· Thoracic surgery
· Emergency surgery
· Heart diseases
· Orthopaedic surgery
· Paediatric intensive care

PalMed has provided its delegation with the necessary medical supplies and equipment needed for doctors’ work in Gaza’s hospitals, as per requests made by local doctors and by officials from the Ministry of Health in Gaza’s hospitals from members of PalMed’s previous delegation that had performed medical procedures there.

PalMed’s fifth delegation’s members will be performing specialised surgical operations for patients and the wounded in Palestine in an effort towards alleviating their suffering, and also to support their peers in the Strip’s hospitals.

God Willing, PalMed will continue to send specialised delegations and needed medical supplies and medications to Gaza in fulfilment of its professional and humanitarian duty and in strengthening the resilience of the dedicated local medical teams there.

In this regard, we supplicate The Almighty to keep our delegation’s members safe, as well as all medical personnel and innocent civilians in our beloved Palestine. We also pray for the end of this unjust Israeli Zionist aggression as soon as possible by the Will and Power of God.

Together We Can

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:

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.

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

.

Together, We Can Make a Difference.

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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With the Participation of Leading Doctors and International Experts: PalMed Holds an Academic Conference to Support Medical Students in Gaza.

A Global Message of Solidarity

Charity Dinner

Palmed Academy: A Vision for Sustainable Medical Education

Togeter, We can.

The project for the maintenance and reactivation of ambulances in Gaza, funded by the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe, has begun in coordination with the Ministry of Health in Gaza and under the supervision of Dr. Ahmed Abou Nada, Director of the association’s Gaza office.

Project Overview:

The project involves the repair and rehabilitation of 39 ambulances and 15 transport vehicles that require spare parts for maintenance and to be operational again.

Togeter, We can.

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.

Restoration of European Hospital, Gaza.

Project Stages:

Together, we can.

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!”

Donations are still welcome to facilitate the completion of the campaign’s next phases.

>

Together We can.

Together, we can.

PalMed’s fifth specialised delegation consists of consultants in the following specialisations:

· Intensive care and anaesthesia · Vascular surgery · Thoracic surgery · Emergency surgery · Heart diseases · Orthopaedic surgery · Paediatric intensive care

PalMed’s fifth delegation’s members will be performing specialised surgical operations for patients and the wounded in Palestine in an effort towards alleviating their suffering, and also to support their peers in the Strip’s hospitals.

God Willing, PalMed will continue to send specialised delegations and needed medical supplies and medications to Gaza in fulfilment of its professional and humanitarian duty and in strengthening the resilience of the dedicated local medical teams there.

In this regard, we supplicate The Almighty to keep our delegation’s members safe, as well as all medical personnel and innocent civilians in our beloved Palestine. We also pray for the end of this unjust Israeli Zionist aggression as soon as possible by the Will and Power of God.

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:

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.

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

.

Together, We Can Make a Difference.

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

· Intensive care and anaesthesia
· Vascular surgery
· Thoracic surgery
· Emergency surgery
· Heart diseases
· Orthopaedic surgery
· Paediatric intensive care

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