DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) is finishing work on a $12m specialised surgical building at Gaza Al Shifaa Medical Complex, officials said yesterday.
The project is co-funded by QRC and the GCC Programme for the Reconstruction of Gaza, under the supervision of Islamic Development Bank. The building is being furnished and equipped, with a budget of $18m and is expected to be fully ready by 2015-end.
“QRC staff have completed the 250-bed building, which will offer cardiovascular, neurological and cardiothoracic surgeries, catheterisation and computed tomography (CT) scans, among others,” Said Dr Akram Nassar, Director, QRC Office, Gaza.
He hoped that the new facility will improve the quality of medical services in line with QRC’s priority of developing health infrastructure amid tragic conditions in Gaza in the aftermath of Israeli war and siege.
Fadhel Salim, a warehouseman at the complex, is responsible for storing medical supplies provided by relief agencies. He received the latest delivery of medical equipment for the complex’s Cardiology Department established QRC and became the first patient to undergo cardiac catheterisation at the new department.
“I had been receiving medical equipment and supplies for the department. I felt fatigue and when I took an electrocardiogram, it was found that I needed urgent cardiac catheterisation.
“My family told me to travel abroad, but I chose to be treated at the department. The procedure was successful, thanks to God and proficient doctors of Al Shifaa Hospital.
“QRC provided many surgical specialities to help patients and reduce the number of those who have to travel abroad,” Salim said.
Dr Mohamed Habib, Head, Cardiology Department, said that since its opening last May, it has conducted 120 diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac and peripheral catheterisation operations and implanted artificial pacemaker on many patients.
“This small number of treated cases is attributed largely to the scarcity of medical consumables due to blockade and the recent 50-day war on Gaza, which halted everything.” He said the department plans to perform eight to 10 catheterisation operations every day.The Peninsula
