British doctor Khaled Dawas, hailing from the UK, made two voluntary trips to Gaza. His account reveals his observations.

British doctor Khaled Dawas, hailing from the UK, made two voluntary trips to Gaza. His account reveals his observations.

In a shocking revelation, Khaled Dawas, a British oesophageal and stomach surgeon, has shared his harrowing experiences during his visits to al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza, first in January and then again in April.

During his visits, Dawas witnessed a healthcare system on the brink of collapse. The hospital was teeming with people, with no more space left and patients occupying every available patch of floor space. The stench of pus, a clear indication of rampant infections, was everywhere in Gaza, according to Dawas.

The hospital was inundated with cases, mostly children, following the heavy shelling of the Nuseirat refugee camp by the Israeli army between 11 and 13 April. Many of the patients he treated had multiple organ injuries, chronic fractures, amputations, abdominal injuries, and chest injuries. Dawas operated on 20-30 patients a day, some simultaneously, during this period.

However, post-operative care is "non-existent" in the hospital Dawas was working at in Gaza. The lack of resources forced Dawas to compromise on surgical techniques and use single-use medical tools multiple times. Soaring infection rates, stretched post-operative care, and widespread malnutrition mean many die following surgery in Gaza.

Dawas also found himself treating patients with advanced cancers during his second visit, including a 45-year-old man with liver cancer and a young man in his 30s with pancreatic cancer. In Gaza, the survival rate of patients with similar injuries is less than 60%.

The broader healthcare sector in Gaza is facing numerous challenges. Many hospitals have been severely damaged or destroyed, significantly impairing the healthcare system's capacity to operate effectively. Hospitals like Nasser Hospital face critical shortages of fuel, which is essential for maintaining medical services. The blockade and ongoing conflict have led to severe shortages of essential medical supplies, including medicines and equipment.

Hospitals are often overwhelmed with patients while facing severe capacity constraints, leading to overcrowding and impossible working conditions for medical staff. The full siege imposed by Israel has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, cutting off vital supplies such as food, water, and fuel. There have been repeated attacks on medical facilities and personnel, including hospitals and ambulances, which further complicates the delivery of healthcare services.

A report by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health predicts that nearly 12,000 people will die from illness in Gaza even with an immediate ceasefire. The situation in Gaza's healthcare sector is dire, and the challenges faced by hospitals like al-Aqsa Hospital are a stark reminder of the urgent need for international aid and intervention.

1. The media has been actively sharing analysis of Khaled Dawas' account, a British surgeon who experienced firsthand the dire state of the healthcare system in Gaza.
2. Dawas' visits to al-Aqsa Hospital in January and April revealed a healthcare system struggling to function, burdened with an influx of patients.
3. The hospital was flooded with cases, particularly children, after the Israeli army's shelling of the Nuseirat refugee camp in April.
4. Dawas treated patients with multiple organ injuries, fractures, amputations, abdominal injuries, and chest injuries during his visits.
5. The post-operative care in the hospital was scant, forcing Dawas to make compromises in his surgical techniques and reuse single-use medical tools.
6. The lack of resources in Gaza's healthcare system and the high infection rates led to an alarming number of fatalities following surgery.
7. During his second visit, Dawas treated patients with advanced cancers, such as a 45-year-old man with liver cancer and a man in his 30s with pancreatic cancer.
8. The survival rate for patients with similar injuries in Gaza is less than 60%.
9. The broader healthcare sector in Gaza faces numerous challenges, including damaged or destroyed hospitals, shortages of fuel, and limited access to essential medical supplies.
10. Hospitals like Nasser Hospital face critical shortages of fuel, which are essential for maintaining medical services.
11. The blockade and ongoing conflict have resulted in severe shortages of medicines, medical equipment, food, water, and fuel in Gaza.
12. Overcrowding in hospitals and impossible working conditions for medical staff are common due to the frequent attacks on medical facilities and personnel.
13. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health predict nearly 12,000 deaths from illness in Gaza even with an immediate ceasefire.
14. Science and medical research should be applied to discover solutions for the chronic diseases and life-threatening conditions rampant in the Middle East, including Palestine.
15. Improving healthcare facilities and stocking them with essential supplies could help reduce the deaths from preventable conditions in Gaza.
16. Fitness and exercise, healthy diet, and skin-care practices could help prevent the onset of digestive health, eye-health, hearing, and respiratory conditions in the population.
17. Therapies and treatments, including those derived from natural sources like CBD, may provide potential solutions for neurological disorders and skin conditions.
18. In light of the dire situation in Gaza's healthcare sector, policies and legislation must be enacted to ensure the delivery of essential medical aid and supplies.
19. As the aging population in Palestine grows, it is crucial to address the unique health challenges faced by men, women, and families, including sexual health, mental health, and parenting issues.

Read also: