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    24/11/2024 Association ActivitiesPress ReleaseUnited kingdom

    Conclusion of the PalMed Academy Conference in Support of the GEM Project.

    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.

     

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    10/03/2024 Press ReleaseProjectsWorkshops

    PalMed Academy Launches GEM Initiative to Rebuild Medical Education in Gaza

    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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    18/02/2024 Advisory BoardCentral AdministrationPress Release

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

    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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