Looking for Trouble

Gaza construction and re-construction everywhere, by Gerri Haynes

Over the last few years, Dr. Bill Dienst and Dr. Bob Haynes have been teaching versions of Advanced Cardiac Life Support. With the advent of new guidelines, this year’s courses are helping to certify instructor trainers for ACLS in Gaza – thereby making it possible for this skill to be taught throughout Gaza.

Twelve participants in one hospital and 18 participants in one of the universities will have ACLS credentials by the end of this week!

We were again impressed by the amount of construction here – demolition and building in every neighborhood. During a visit to Al Amal Orphanage today, we learned that a newly funded structure will be built soon.

Presently, the orphanage serves 170 boys and girls, ages 5 years and above, but the last war on Gaza left many infants and very young children without families and the new structure will house children from one week to five years of age.

Orphanage administrative personnel are presently seeking funding for operations of this new facility. The orphanage is also planning installation of solar panels. With severe electrical cuts throughout Gaza (electricity often available only three to six hours per day), the advent of solar energy is eagerly anticipated.

Classes in stress management offered by members of our group continue in several sites. Staff members of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme are educating health care providers (doctors, nurses, social workers) throughout the Strip to offer mental health services to the Gaza population that is traumatically stressed by repetitive war.

The mental health providers from our group hope to offer support to this effort. No area of the 25-mile-long Gaza Strip has been untouched by the traumas of siege and war. The challenges to mental health care workers are great and the staff of GCMHP has consistently sought programs to help spread available mental health services to the community.

They are heroic and inspiring.

Music and dance are an integral part of Gaza. In a visit today to Meera kindergarten we were treated to the dancing instruction of a now-famous Gazan, known as Sweet Baby – a young man who compels every person in his presence to dance.

This kindergarten is expanding in size and service and is mainstreaming several autistic students. Again and again, the spirit of Gaza is brilliant!

(Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility has traveled to Gaza since 1993. Since 2009, following the Cast Lead invasion by Israel, WPSR has sponsored ten medical delegations to serve the people of Gaza.)