January 21, 2010
Ma’an News Agency - 20 January 2010
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) on Wednesday highlighted the impact of the blockade of Gaza on the health of its population and its health services and called for an immediate opening of Gaza’s crossings.
Max Gaylard, the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territories said during a news conference in Gaza City “The continuing closure of the Gaza Strip is undermining the functioning of the health care system and putting at risk the health of 1.4 million people in Gaza.”
“ It is causing on-going deterioration in the social, economic and environmental determinants of health. It is hampering the provision of medical supplies and the training of health staff and it is preventing patients with serious medical conditions getting timely specialized treatment outside Gaza.”
The economy and environment
AIDA pointed out that Gaza’s economy remains in dire straits and is “in virtual collapse, with rising unemployment and poverty which will have long term adverse effects on the physical and mental health of the population.”
Furthermore, local environment is also in decline, including water quality, sewage and waste disposal, in addition to environmental hazards, such as munitions and medical waste, which AIDA says may lead to long term effects on health.
“More than 750,000 children live in Gaza. The humanitarian community is gravely concerned about the future of this generation whose health needs are not being met. The decline in infant mortality, which has occurred steadily over recent decades, has stalled in the last few years.”
Health facilities
AIDA indicated that the ban on the entry of construction materials is affecting essential health facilities: “The new surgical wing in Gaza’s main As- Shifa hospital has remained unfinished since 2006.”
Moreover, during Operation Cast Lead 15 of Gaza’s 27 hospitals and 43 of its 110 primary health care facilities were either damaged or destroyed. None have been rebuilt as a result of the blockade.
Certain types of medical equipment, such as x-ray machines and electronic devices, are difficult to transfer into the Strip while those present are often broken, missing spare parts or out of date, AIDA wrote.
While supplies of drugs have generally been allowed into Gaza, there are often shortages on the ground, the statement said.
Health care providers
Significantly, the statement shed light on the effect the blockade has on health professionals’ ability to provide quality health care, noting that since 2000, very few doctors, nurses or technicians have been able to leave for training necessary to update their skills or learn of new medical technology.
Moreover, AIDA highlighted that many specialized treatments such as heart surgery or certain types of cancer are not availbe in Gaza. Many patients in need of such treatment have their application for exit for transfers to hospitals outside Gaza denied or delayed by Israeli authorities, the statement said. “Some have died while waiting for referral.”
Tony Laurance, the Head of Office for the World Health Organization in the West Bank and Gaza, said that “an effective health care system cannot be sustained in isolation from the international community. Open borders are needed to ensure the health of the1.4 million people in Gaza.”
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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