Gaza health emergency highlighted by researchers

A report published on Qatar-based Qscience.com by a group of healthcare experts and academics, has highlighted the pressing requirement to address the health emergency in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict. They have also called for global intervention to assist the Gazan population in this dire situation.The report highlights the impact of the ongoing conflict in Gaza resulting in unfortunate and tragic events. According to the authors of the report, the escalation of the war, along with the massive shortage of essential medications and limited staff members, has worsened the already exhausted healthcare system and significantly impacted healthcare delivery and accessibility.The report by Faisal Ahmed, Nasr Alhajeeli, Mohamed Badheeb, Saif Ghabisha, Basheer Mahyoub and Afrah Salem, all academic and healthcare experts from various universities in Yemen, provide an in-depth look into the current situation and raises concerns about an urgent health catastrophe affecting the whole population in Gaza.The key health issues that the writers have highlighted are the hindrance for health delivery and accessibility; the issue of infectious disease; problems regarding reproductive health; impact on mental health and water and sanitation issues."Various independent agencies have reported unprecedented increases in women’s, maternal, and children’s mortality and morbidity with the persistence of the conflict. Furthermore, poor sanitation and water accessibility have resulted in increased diarrhoeal and other infectious illnesses,” note the authors in their report.Additionally, they point out that the psychological and mental implications of war are probably underemphasised and unrecognised, which would persist even after the conflict resolution. The report stresses that the academic community has a moral responsibility to conduct inquiries, impart knowledge, and provide training while also advocating for peace and humanitarian aid.The authors also call upon the internationally recognised organisations, including the United Nations, and highlight that they have a pivotal role in delivering healthcare and essential humanitarian supplies to stabilise environmental and health consequences in Gaza, alleviate detrimental health issues, and prevent further deterioration.They stress that the UN has to play a key role to advocate lifting the blockade to facilitate the entry of medicines, food, water, and fuel into Gaza for immediate relief in humanitarian crises. They have also urged the UN to spearhead the coordination of international efforts to support the health system in Gaza, alongside rigourous monitoring of human rights."Urgent international humanitarian aid is needed to address these critical health issues, alongside efforts to lift the blockade and promote peace-building initiatives. The academic community and the UN play pivotal roles in advocating for policy changes, coordinating relief efforts, and supporting capacity-building initiatives to mitigate the health crisis in Gaza,” concludes, the report.Qscience.com is an innovative and collaborative, peer-reviewed, online publishing platform from Hamad bin Khalifa University Press offering a fast and transparent open access scholarly publishing process, centred on the authors bringing their research to a global audience. It hosts a range of open-access, peer-reviewed content.