By Caitlin Bartkus | Resource Development Officer
This will be our final update as International Medical Corps’ emergency response in Gaza draws to a close.
To continue supporting International Medical Corps, please visit our “Emergency Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)” project to learn about our global response to the pandemic.
Learn more about our Coronavirus response here: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-response-to-the-coronavirus-2019-ncov/
Gaza’s tense political and security environment has seen periods of sporadic violence and conflict including three wars between 2008 and 2014. The destruction of critical infrastructure and a deteriorating socio-economic situation has led to a protracted humanitarian crisis. InMay 2021, Gaza faced one of the worst escalations of violence since the war in 2014, which brought widespread devastation to an already impoverished territory and resulted in 267 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries.
Prior to this recent escalation, the health sector in Gaza was already over-burdened when the COVID-19 outbreak further exacerbated the already fragile system. Adding to the challenges facing Gaza’s healthcare system, the conflict damaged many hospitals and clinics and severely affected essential infrastructure like roads and electricity networks limiting public access to basic services across Gaza.
As part of our response to the needs in Gaza, International Medical Corps, with local partners, operates mobile medical teams (MMT) that provide essential primary healthcare services and consultations for communities with compromised access to care. During regular visits to these communities, the MMTs have served more than 8,300 individuals, especially women, children, older people and people with disabilities since January 2021. The MMTs have identified many undiagnosed cases of diabetes mellitus among adults and children and undiagnosed hypertension among men and women, providing them with the needed care in addition to nutrition counseling and further referrals when necessary.
Additionally, the MMTs treat common communicable diseases among adults and children. For example, a 30-year-old woman, her husband and their five children had been suffering from pin worms for a long-time. She told MMT members that previously she had not been seeking medical care for her family because they could not afford the medication. However, after hearing about the MMTs from her neighbor and easily accessing their services, her family has been able to receive treatment and heal successfully. She stated, “I really hope that MMTs continue in our community, particularly during the Coronavirus pandemic, as they facilitate access to safe, high-quality health services. I appreciate International Medical Corps and Caritas for their efforts and respectful behavior.”
Additionally, our team has supported the mental health needs of the conflict-affected population with psychological first aid, psychosocial support consultations and group awareness sessions; screened more than 2,000 children for malnutrition and anemia; distributed medicines, supplies and personal protective equipment; and more.
International Medical Corps is grateful to GlobalGiving and its community of donors for raising awareness of our response efforts to the conflict in Gaza.
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