Healthcare crisis in Gaza highlighted by Highland health workers

Evocative and emotional testimonies highlighting the healthcare crisis in war-torn Gaza were conveyed at an event in Inverness.

Speakers, including doctors and nurses who shared heartfelt and graphic first-hand experiences, highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation and growing numbers of dead and injured - many being children - since Israel’s military assault began in October.

The event also included a one-minute silence to remember all health workers killed in Gaza and to consider those who continue to work there tirelessly on the frontline.

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The event, held at the Raigmore Recreation Centre, was organised by the campaign group, Highland - Palestine, and brought together those working in healthcare with others for an evening of speeches, a panel discussion and questions from the audience.

It also considered what people could do to raise awareness and take meaningful action to support the Palestinian struggle for health and dignity and contribute to making a difference in the lives of those affected by the crisis.

The speakers included Dr Salim Ghayyda, a consultant paediatrician at Raigmore Hospital, whose efforts to evacuate family members from Gaza continue.

The British Palestinian, who has lived and worked in the UK for 21 years, gave a glimpse into his and his family’s journey from 1948.

Trauma and orthopaedic surgeon Andy Kent gave a graphic account of his experiences working as a surgeon in Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, through the charity UK-Med, earlier this year.

Ico Garcia Bautista, a nurse in Raigmore’s emergency department, highlighted the humanitarian situation she encountered as a hospital programme manager for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Khan Younis earlier this year compared to her previous visits.

Dr Reem Al Soufi, a consultant in NHS Lothian and a Postgraduate Dean with NHS Education for Scotland, spoke about the Gaza Infant Nutrition Alliance (GINA) which she founded and which is working with midwives in Gaza to promote and support breastfeeding and also collaborating with two charities to deliver food parcels to breastfeeding mothers.

Psychotherapist Avigail Abarbanel, who renounced her Israeli citizenship 23 years ago, spoke about Israel’s culture and indoctrination as well as the issue of why people find it hard to stand up for the Palestinian people.

Ideas for what people could do in response to the situation in Gaza were outlined by Sara, a junior doctor and founding member of Health Workers for a Free Palestine.

They ranged from talking with family, friends and colleagues to raise awareness to a boycott of Israeli goods.

The event was chaired by GP Lisa Rennie who stressed the voices and opinions expressed were personal and did not represent NHS Highland.

“I stand here this evening as a doctor, as a mother, but mostly as a human being wondering what has happened to basic humanity,” she said.

“What we are witnessing in Palestine must be acknowledged and this safe space is an important opportunity for reflection, discussion and hopefully action.”

She said it was crucial to talk about the suffering of their colleagues in Gaza and what they had endured relentlessly for nine months.

“They are exhausted,” she said. “They are asking for our help.

“Health workers have been targeted and detained and tortured. 507 health workers have been killed and 670 injured.

“They are hungry and do not have colleagues to hand over to. They have had family killed.

“They have amputated their own child’s leg with no analgesia.”

She said 32 hospitals, 110 clinics and 239 ambulances had been destroyed.

“We have lit a candle in memory of our fellow health workers who have been killed in Gaza.

“These are people like you and I that get up and go to work every day to help other people.

“They had careers, family and dreams. They must not be forgotten.”

She said that more than 15,000 children had been killed.

“This is not a war with ‘collateral damage’. There is no doubt this is genocide we are witnessing,” she maintained.

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