Doha, Qatar: HH The Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics in Gaza, funded by Qatar Fund for Development has resumed the provision of its services for patients and the wounded.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) Fahad Al Sulaiti said: "Despite the challenges, and thanks to great efforts, the hospital has resumed operations, marking a crucial step considering the difficult conditions our people in Gaza are facing. With the severe deterioration of the healthcare sector and the urgent need for such services, the hospital remains a beacon of hope".
In this regard, Al Sulaiti emphasized that the hospital's continued operation reflects Qatar's steadfast commitment to supporting Palestinian brothers and providing them with the necessary healthcare despite the challenges.
For his part, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hamad Hospital Dr. Khaled Abdel Hadi stated, "As part of the emergency response to the needs of patients and war casualties in Gaza, and given the collapse of the healthcare system, despite the operational capacity of the hospital being reduced to 70% and losses amounting to $4.5 million, the Board of Directors decided to resume services immediately after the ceasefire. This comes after the hospital was forced out of service during the period of aggression on Gaza".
Meanwhile, the hospitals General Director, Ahmed Naim, noted that the hospital's rehabilitation and restoration efforts were carried out with minimal resources and within available means.
He emphasized ongoing coordination efforts with partners and international organizations to procure essential medical equipment and devices to fully restore the hospital's capacity and maintain high-quality healthcare services for patients.
The QFFD indicated in its statement today that the hospital's response strategy consists of three phases to ensure the continuation of services for those in need.
The first phase, lasting one week after clearing the rubble and preparing the hospital premises, will focus on measuring and manufacturing prosthetics using the available materials in storage. It is estimated that around 4,500 new amputees need prosthetics in addition to the 2,000 existing cases requiring maintenance and follow-up care. Additionally, vital audiology services will be reactivated for children with cochlear implants, including auditory-verbal rehabilitation, programming, and spare parts provision.
He noted that the second phase, expected to last two weeks, outpatient clinics will reopen to provide specialized rehabilitation services, including stroke rehabilitation, brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation, amputation rehabilitation, pediatric rehabilitation, musculoskeletal and orthopedic rehabilitation, pain management, bladder rehabilitation, and men's health services.
Outpatient rehabilitation services, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and swallowing therapy, will also resume. Currently, approximately 24,000 injured individuals require rehabilitation. Laboratory services, CT scans, and X-ray services will also be reintroduced.
The third phase will see the return of inpatient rehabilitation services for patients recovering from various injuries.
HH The Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics in Gaza has provided services to more than 40,000 patients and individuals with disabilities since its inauguration in April 2019 until the onset of the aggression.
