Looking for Trouble

Day Six in Gaza: Dr. Eyad Sarraj

By Gerri Haynes

(Gerri Haynes, a former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, is sending back reports from inside blockaded Gaza. As she did three times before, Gerri organized a team of doctors and other health care providers to work in hospitals and clinics in Gaza in an effort to directly help the people there and to bring attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis that the Israeli blockade has created. Sixth in the series.)

This evening, our group was hosted in the lovely garden of Dr. Eyad Sarraj, president of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme. Dr. Sarraj is respected throughout the world for his work on peace and reconciliation and for his study of refugees and the trauma of war and occupation. His giant spirit has inspired members of WPSR to return again and again to Gaza and to provide information about the situation in Gaza to our medical and nursing colleagues.

As we complete this brief journey, members of our team are preparing to give two presentations on Gaza at the American Public Health Association meeting in Washington DC next weekend. We have had hospital and clinic experiences and listened with open hearts. We hope to return next year with an expanded medical team, prepared to offer services not presently available here.

Today, Kara Mochan and Maxine Fookson gave lectures at Islamic University. Kara sends these notes on her time here:

“These days have been a whirlwind of activity:
• Meetings with the Palestinian Nursing Association to talk about the state of nursing in Gaza and the need for continued nursing education for the 7,000 nurses in Gaza
• Meetings with the only certified child psychiatrist in all of Gaza, my wonderful colleague Dr. Sami… One meeting with Dr. Sami included a tour of the child therapy room – fully equipped and ready for use.
• A tour and meeting with the director of the Qattan Center, a private organization, serving the children of Gaza City with a resource center and full library for children and parents”
• And many more…

Kara has been busy in Gaza. She has taught and learned and consulted with colleagues throughout Gaza. The list is long and full. In many meetings, she has been invited to return to teach, conduct research, and consult.

Kara writes, “I have slept little. Today, as the light starts to wake up Gaza, I look out to the sea to take in the calming waves and this time I only see one Israeli boat watching me as I write this………. maybe that is why I was sleepless in Gaza tonight.”

This morning, Laura Hart and I met with Sébastien Trives of UNRWA. He is completing five years in Gaza and reviewed the extensive work UNRWA does in Gaza. Sébastien expressed great concern over Gaza’s status as a welfare state with a shadow economy (the tunnels). He questioned the sustainability of the present situation and noted that due to deep cuts in the budget of UNRWA, employment levels of local people will fall.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/14/un-unrwa-report-blockade-gaza-unemployment

Laura Hart, M.D. writes: As the sun set tonight in Gaza, our last evening here, I thought of how privileged we are to travel to this remarkable place. I was struck again by the grace and courage of the people of Gaza. Whether it is a mother worried about her child, a doctor or nurse thirsting for the most current treatment protocols and techniques, or the hotel clerk who wants only to work in the field of his educational degree, I am humbled. I am so grateful for the hospitality of Dr. Eyad Sarraj, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme and the physicians and personnel of the hospitals and clinics who welcomed us.

A special note of thanks goes to Amani, Ashraf and Abu Husam of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme for arranging meetings, teaching opportunities, transportation and hundreds of details to make this journey successful – we are blessed.