Aqsa Martyrs Hospital: Providing Services with Limited Facilities in Gaza
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Doctor Halil ed-Dekran, has raised concerns about the increasing number of patients and injured individuals at Aksa Martyrs Hospital and the impact it is having on the hospital’s capacity.
According to Dekran, the hospital is currently accommodating three times more patients and injured individuals than its bed capacity allows. This has resulted in many patients having to sleep on the floors and corridors both inside and outside the hospital, posing a serious threat to their lives.
Aksa Martyrs Hospital, located in the central part of the region, has been under strain as it serves approximately 1 million people following the recent wave of migration from Refah. The closure of the Refah Border Gate for 25 days, along with restrictions on food and medical supplies, has further exacerbated the situation and endangered the lives of patients.
Dekran highlighted the challenges faced by the hospital, such as the significant increase in the number of dialysis patients from 140 to 600 since the start of the war. This has forced the hospital to reduce dialysis sessions from 3 sessions of 4 hours to 2 sessions of 2 hours per week, impacting the quality of care provided to these patients.
One individual, Ruba al-Abid, shared the story of her cousin who was left paralyzed after losing his family in attacks by Israel. Despite being dependent on a respirator to breathe, there is no room for him in the overcrowded hospital. As a result, he is in need of treatment outside of Gaza.
Aksa Martyrs Hospital has issued warnings twice due to fuel shortages, indicating that health services may come to a halt if the situation is not addressed promptly. The increasing number of patients and injured individuals, coupled with limited resources, calls for urgent attention and support to ensure the well-being of those in need of medical care.
