This World Population Day, we are highlighting the urgency of providing medical care and support to those currently suffering in Palestine. As of now, there are approximately 1.9 million people displaced in the Gaza Strip alone, who are struggling to access basic necessities such as food, clean water, shelter and life-saving medication and care (Al Jazeera).
Our team from Doctors Worldwide Turkey have been providing medical care, financial support and equipment in two physiotherapy and rehabilitation centres within Gaza for the past 10 years with a 20-strong team of local Palestinian staff. Despite the ongoing attacks resulting in damage to our headquarters and rendering the building uninhabitable, our team continues to provide medical aid and support for those in need.
Right now, we are supporting a grassroots nonprofit organisation to run medical tents in three areas in the middle of the Gaza Strip (Deir Al-Balah, Al-Zawayda and Khan Younis), in order to ensure close proximity to target areas and allow patients to receive medical services without being subjected to danger due to the need to travel to receive care.
- In total, the medical tents support over 6,900 patients a month via the work of a family doctor, nurse and logistician.
- Areas of care covered include health education, psychological support, treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, and early detection of common diseases e.g diabetes.
- Dedicated breastfeeding support tent available as of January.
- Comprehensive and biopsychosocial approach with patients
- Registered by the Ministry of Health as qualified to manage patients
- Each tent is led by a highly professional and experienced family doctor
- In the process of transforming the infrastructure, from tents to semi-permanent structures.
Due to the recent displacement from Rafah to the middle area of the Gaza Strip, duplication of number of cases seen per day at the medical tents is expected, as well as a major increase in care needed for wounded civilians. Moreover, additional support is required to establish a specialised tent for mental health, as well as provide a portable ultrasonography device to start antenatal care services.
This World Population Day, support our medical tent/family doctor initiative and ensure those displaced across the Gaza Strip are able to receive the care they urgently require.
Donate now: www.doctorsworldwide.org/donate
