“We will remain here until the pain goes away” was etched on a hospital whiteboard in Gaza in late 2023.
In the midst of war, Palestinian healthcare workers in Gaza exhibited incredible resilience, tirelessly attending to injured patients with the limited resources at their disposal. The challenging circumstances include widespread diseases, famine, childbirth without proper medical attention, and surgeries and amputations without anesthesia. The aftermath leaves survivors grappling with profound physical and psychological trauma.
The question that keeps arising for me is what can we do? Every time I see another video about a child having an amputation, I cannot help but think how their rehabilitative care will look, let alone how it could have been avoided. Within any healthcare role, there is also a moral responsibility to stand in the face of injustice. The occupation of Palestine has always been a health issue and now we are seeing how it directly ties into health politics, disability justice, rehabilitative care, and O&P.
Even before the war, Gaza struggled with healthcare provision due to sanctions and limited supplies. Now, the bombing of hospitals and medical centers compounds the challenges for amputees, hindering access to timely and adequate care. UNICEF reported over 1,000 children undergoing lower-limb amputations by November 2023,1 with Gaza health authorities citing nearly a quarter of injuries among children, rates deemed unusually high compared to other conflicts.2
O&P professionals understand the meticulous process of crafting custom prostheses, involving fittings, rehab, and appointments. Imagine this process stripped of functioning healthcare facilities, tools, devices, or proper care. Healthcare workers must extend their duty beyond clinic walls, engaging in collective care, such as humanitarian aid.
Humanitarian aid in O&P is crucial for restoring mobility and improving the quality of life in conflict or disaster-stricken areas. However, the occupation severely impedes such efforts in Palestine. The impact of aid goes beyond immediate relief, fostering long-term resilience and preserving the dignity of those benefiting from these essential services. The ongoing hostilities disproportionately affect individuals with disabilities, hampering their access to essential services and adequate medical care. Recognizing this impact is pivotal for fostering a just and equitable response, upholding the inherent dignity of all individuals, and promoting inclusivity in post-conflict reconstruction.
What I keep seeing is the unmeasurable resilience and steadfastness of Palestinians. They did not choose to be resilient people, it is what they need for survival and to move through this pain, until their liberation.
As healthcare workers, and particularly as O&P professionals, we have a niche insight into this facet of rehabilitative care. There will soon be a time when resources, experts, supplies, etc. will be needed in post-war rehabilitative care.
Practitioners are encouraged to join initiatives like ProstheticsforPalestine on Instagram or email [email protected] to contribute to donation efforts. Additionally, connecting with local Healthcare Workers for Palestine groups and established organizations like the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund Gaza amputee project, Palestinian Youth Movement, and Jewish Voices for Peace provides avenues for involvement.
As practitioners, the role we play is not to save anyone but to collaborate with our patients and stand with them.
Safa Doost, CO, has been practicing for over six years and is based out of the San Francisco area. She can be contacted at [email protected].
References
- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gazas-child-amputees-face-further-risks-without-expert-care-2024-01-04/
- https://time.com/6337606/doctors-in-the-u-s-silent-gaza/
To read the poem, visit “If I Must Die” by Refaat Alareer.