R4HC-MENA and CSaP Policy fellow fellow,Dr Khamis Elessi, provides an account of the health and medical impacts of the recent attacks on Gaza. In this conversation, he outlines the immediate, and ongoing challenges as well as health needs that colleagues and he face in doing their job. Thank you to Dr. Saleyha Ahsan for the voice over.
Issues covered
What is your role and position in Gaza hospital?
How are you and your family? How are you as a doctor coping, how are your colleagues?
What was the medical system / health situation in Gaza pre bombing? How far has the recent conflict set the health system back?
What were main medical challenges you faced pre bombing – covid response, difficulty to access meds, lack of treatment for certain patients – oncology, NCDs, unable to transfer patients to Israel and Israel government stopping cancer treatment without notice for example.
Current situation – immediate health and medical impacts from bombing – What kind and numbers of patients coming through – severe trauma, types of injuries, hospital staffing capacities and shortages.
Have you faced any attacks on your hospital or any other hospitals. Do you think there has been a deliberate targeting of health infrastructure?
What do you need from donors and medics outside of Gaza?
What will be medium and long terms health needs and demands for Gaza – injuries, rehab, disabilities, health system reconstruction?
