With the relentless Israeli airstrikes on Gaza this past week, hospitals are feeling the strain of repair. In an already overwhelmed health care system, the influx of new patients injured by the military strikes has caused a major crisis in the region. The limited access to medical supplies and decreasing staff availability in Gaza has presented an additional challenge to the health care system. To further complicate the matter, fuel shortages have significantly impeded transport to medical facilities by congesting the already crowded roads, while electricity shortages have caused further delays and complications in receiving proper care.
What makes this situation even more dire is the fact that anesthesia and drugs cannot be used to conduct medical operations. In emergency cases, medical practitioners are forced to resort to surgery without anesthesia in order to treat patients in need of immediate operations. This has caused much distress among medical personnel, who are not accustomed to performing operations without sedation, and has overwhelmed the hospitals where such procedures are taking place.
The situation in Gaza is highly concerning, and with the conflict in the region escalating, the medical needs of the population will only increase. Not only do hospitals have to remain operational during airstrikes, but medical staff have to be trained to perform surgeries without anesthesia. With the situation worsening, medical practitioners from Egypt, Jordan, and other countries are offering assistance in addition to the limited medical assistance provided by organizations.
The situation in Gaza is heart-breaking, and the fact that patients are struggling to receive proper care due to fuel shortages and electricity cuts is distressing. We must all strive to offer medical assistance to those affected by this conflict and to ensure that they have access to quality medical care even in turbulent times.
