How Gaza’s medics are using technology to battle the blockade

In the face of nine years of conflict and blockade, doctors in Gaza continue to show incredible determination to provide quality healthcare to the 1.8 million people they serve. But closed off from the rest of the world, opportunities to enhance their skills are few and far between. With technology making it ever easier to connect across borders, medics from around the world are finding new ways to help their peers in Gaza to overcome the everyday restrictions imposed by the blockade.

The closure of Gaza places severe restrictions on the freedom of movement of Palestinians. For doctors and medical professionals, this means being often unable to travel out to the West Bank and abroad to undertake training or attend conferences. This lack of access to opportunities for professional development restricts their ability to provide effective modern care to the people of Gaza. MAP and IDEALS have been sending medical delegations to Gaza since the devastating 2014 attacks, two years ago this month, not only to treat patients when they visit, but also to provide urgently needed training to their Palestinian counterparts in the latest medical practice and surgical techniques.

In February, Dr Ahmed told MAP why he thinks such technology could be so helpful to Gaza: “I have a huge interest in the use of technology in health education, and believe in Gaza it can be used to overcome the frustrations posed by the blockade. This technology can help medics in Gaza communicate with people and get teaching and training from around the world.”

Dr Abu Sittah’s support to the medics of Gaza didn’t end there. He recently used a different recent innovation - augmented reality technology - to support an operation for a man whose hand was injured when an explosive device left over from the conflict went off in his hand. Dr Abu Sittah provided advice to the surgical team in Gaza during the operation from his office in Beirut via a live-feed. Al Jazeera covered the operation in their latest short documentary, ‘Operation Gaza’, which you can watch online here.

So long as the blockade and closure of Gaza remain in place, the territory’s dedicated medics will struggle to update their skills, and medical practice will be held back while the rest of the world advances. MAP’s medical delegations help overcome these obstacles, and help save lives and limbs in Gaza. You can help support this work by considering a donation today.

On the occasion of the second anniversary of the attacks on Gaza you can also help us call on world leaders to take action to end the blockade by signing and sharing this petition.