Gaza: a health care system impeded - Médecins du Monde

MDM-F’S RESPONSE:einforcing the general health sectorin Gaza by supporting the MoH in fillingthe gaps in the tertiary health careservice and priority sectors such asorthopaedic surgery (9% of the total ofreferral cases).Facts and Figures on medical referrals abroad(2007-2008).in the MoH’s budget since 2005, seriously limiting the Ministry’scapacity to further develop the health services.referral outside Gaza, accounting for 16% of the total number ofpatients seeking treatment abroad.10% in 2006 to 44% in 2008.Gaza.The Invisible wounds: Mental health impact on childrenAt the mental health level, operation ‘Cast Lead’ exposed children to high levels of stress, as the timing of the attack coincided with themid-day change in school shifts when the majority of Gaza’s schoolchildren were either in school or in proximity to their schools. Childrenwitnessed horrific scenes of violence and were deprived of their own protective environments such as their homes and schools. As reportedas troubled sleep, depression and anxiety, social difficulties, higher rates of delusional, obsessive and scary thoughts, delinquency andviolent behavior. These psychological symptoms have persisted, and are still present one year after the end of the offensive.In the street of the Samouni family that has become sadlyfamous since the loss of 21 of its membersduring last year « Cast lead » operation.Those boys lost both of their parents© Pauline Beugnies I MDM FranceMEDICOS DEL MUNDO-SPAIN’S RESPONSE:Supporting health professionals in Nasser, Kamal Aduan and Shifa hospitals. Likewise, also the CrisisIntervention Team and the Trauma Center in their fieldwork in the most affected areas.Providing technical support to Jabalia and Sourani Community Mental Health Centers working with the teamsto improve the quality of services for the people who are still suffering from the traumatic events as well as forothers who come with different kinds of mental disorders.