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Palestinian doctors raise funds for Gaza medical education.
The Palestinian Doctors’ Association in Europe, known as PalMed, has raised more than $150,000 to support medical students in Gaza through the Gaza Medical Education initiative. The sum was raised during a conference at the Royal College of Physicians in London on Saturday.
Under the banner “Reviving Medical Education in Gaza: Challenges and Solutions”, the significant difficulties facing Gaza’s medical education infrastructure were highlighted at the conference, including the ongoing blockade and systematic destruction of healthcare and educational facilities. The event featured panel discussions and academic presentations emphasising the importance of innovation and international collaboration in supporting medical education.
“By participating today, you are fanning the flame of hope, not just for students and faculty members, but also for all the people of Gaza,” the chair of the conference, Dr Hossam Al-Din Adwan, a consultant surgeon at the UK’s Wirral University Hospital, told participants.
These included distinguished international figures, including Professor Mads Gilbert from Norway, who is renowned for his humanitarian support for Gaza, as well as Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, who stressed the vital role of education in Palestinian resilience. Dr Riyad Misharqa, Chair of the PalMed Advisory Council, praised the determination and excellence of Gaza’s medical students, emphasising the initiative’s role in ensuring their future and the sustainability of Gaza’s medical schools.
Students from Gaza joined the conference online. Lina Abu Hein described the daily hardships and dangers that they face, particularly while commuting to hospitals for clinical training. She also highlighted the critical resources needed to support their education. Tariq Abdel Jawad, chair of the student engagement committee in the medical education initiative, shared his personal experience and the role he and his peers have played in hospitals during the war. He stressed that international support provides them with hope and motivation to continue their education and serve their community.
Professor Mahmoud Loubani, a consultant in cardiothoracic surgery and the president of PalMed Academy, underscored the importance of the initiative. “The funds raised today will directly support medical students in Gaza through the Gaza Medical Education programme. This is an investment in Gaza’s future, aiming to ensure the continuity of medical education and to prepare qualified medical professionals to serve the community.”
He explained that since its launch in June this year, the initiative has enrolled 2,100 students, supported by more than 1,000 international volunteers who provide lectures and assistance through a comprehensive educational platform.
The conference shed light on the current state of medical schools in Gaza, particularly those at Al-Azhar University and the Islamic University. Both institutions face severe challenges, including the destruction of their infrastructure and a lack of essential educational and medical resources. Before the recent conflict, approximately 2,500 students were enrolled in medical programmes across Gaza.
“The devastation inflicted on the infrastructure of medical education threatens not only the future of students,” said Dr Anwar Sheikh Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Islamic University of Gaza, “but also the entire healthcare system in Gaza.”
The conference concluded with a charity dinner, during which funds were raised to help medical students in Gaza, fostering an atmosphere of solidarity and determination to achieve the programme’s goals.
PalMed Academy is the educational arm of the Palestinian Doctors Association in Europe. Established in 2022, the academy aims to elevate healthcare standards for Palestinians through education and training. It collaborates with universities and international institutions to provide advanced educational materials and training programmes. Through its initiatives, PalMed and its partners strive to sustain medical education in Gaza as a pillar of Palestinian resilience amidst the immense challenges posed by the ongoing blockade and occupation.
(middle east monitor)