Faculty of Health Sciences at Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) organized a scientific lecture on the Gaza Strip experience in fighting Covid-19 pandemic given by Dr. Rami Al-Abadla, Director of infection control unit at the Ministry of Health, and attended by Prof. Dr. Abdelraouf Elmanama, Professor of Microbiology and Dean of Quality and Development, Dr. Mazen Al-Zaharna, Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Hamid Al-Khodari – Vice Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences, a number of faculty members, a group of researchers, specialists, employees of the Ministry of Health, and students from the faculty.
Dr. Al-Abadla reviewed the most significant measures implemented to delay the entry of the virus into the Gaza Strip, the most important challenges faced the responsible authorities in the Strip, and ways of dealing with cases discovered after that. He noted that the followed treatment protocol was subject to constant review and update.
Dr. Al-Abadla said: “The most severe challenges the Gaza Strip faced were: the siege on Gaza for many years, the huge lack in medical supplies and devices, the lack of medical staff, and the fact that Gaza has never experienced a similar incident to take notes from.
Dr. Al-Abadla pointed out that one of the positive aspects of the experience is the delay in Covid-19 arrival to Gaza, which gave time to plan for the coming period and prepare the cadre and the ministry’s facilities in line with the procedures for dealing with the pandemic. He added that: “Negatives of the experience were represented in the intervention of committees work, the lack of psychological support for health services providers, the lack of investing and preserving the health workers, and not specifying a special source within the Ministry of Health to acquire all information related to the pandemic, and provide decision-makers with all information necessary to make the appropriate decision.”
It is worth noting that this lecture is part of a series of lectures conducted by the Ambassador of American Society for Microbiology (ASM) to Palestine: Prof. Dr. Abdelraouf Elmanama, and supervised by Ms. Nour Abu Tayyem who organizes the lectures.