QRCS intensifies medical interventions for almost 1mn patients in 11 countries

Over the last six months, Dr Basel Odeh, the interventional radiologist hired by Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) in Gaza, has performed 114 surgeries at the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s (MoH) hospitals using the interventional radiology technology, which has recently been introduced to Gaza hospitals. The procedures included laparoscopic lithotripsy and cystic duct catheterisation, performed for the first time at Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza. The work of Dr Odeh focuses on nonvascular interventional procedures, including renal/ureteral catheterisation, complex biopsies and surgical drainage.These interventions are part of the 'Specialised Surgical Operations for Poor Patients in Gaza' project, carried out by QRCS’s representation office in Gaza, to help improve the quality of health services provided for Palestinian patients there. According to the international projects guide issued by QRCS for 2023, a total of 76 health projects will be launched at an overall cost of QR62,223,220, for the benefit of 919,912 patients in 11 countries — Afghanistan, Jordan, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Niger, Yemen, Bangladesh, Syria, Palestine (Gaza, Al-Quds and the West Bank) and Lebanon.Health projects are divided into three categories: surgeries and treatment; provision of medicines and medical devices; and the establishment/rehabilitation of health facilities. During 2022, QRCS intensified its health projects, which had a total cost of QR128,975,339. They included medical convoys, treatment of patients abroad, primary and secondary healthcare services, health education, Covid-19 response, therapeutic and preventive nutrition, mobile mental health clinics, provision of medicines and first-aid kits, early hearing intervention for infants, recruitment of medical expertise and training, construction and support of health facilities, monitoring of vaccination campaigns, dialysis, treatment of cancer patients, procurement and equipment of ambulance vehicles, and rehabilitative therapy for persons with disabilities.To support QRCS’s health projects, donors can visit the website (www.qrcs.org.qa) or mobile application (QRCS), call the donor service (66666364) or home donation collection (33998898), or send an SMS with "health” to the following numbers: 92552 (QR250), 92869 (QR350), 92092 (QR500), 92556 (QR750) and 92246 (QR1,000).Alternatively, they can make a transfer to the following bank accounts: QNB (QA21QNBA000000000850020196062), QIB (QA51QISB000000000110575190014), QIIB (QA66QIIB000010026100001002610), and Masraf Al Rayan (QA18MAFR000000000011199980003).