31 October 2024
In September, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) sent two healthcare professionals from the breast unit it supports at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, in the northern occupied West Bank, to Jordan for advanced training at the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC).
This two-week fellowship provided Shifa Masri, a nurse, and Areej Hamami, a radiographer, with hands-on experience in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and patient management, equipping them with crucial skills to improve the quality of care back in the West Bank.
In the West Bank, breast cancer services are fragmented. Patients often face a labyrinth of appointments, scattered across different clinics. Movement restrictions, imposed by Israel’s illegal occupation and policies of racial segregation and apartheid, severely limit access to timely and essential medical services.
The training at KHCC exposed Shifa and Areej to a more coordinated system, where patient care is navigated seamlessly. Shifa observed how Jordanian hospitals employ coordinators to manage patient appointments, tests and treatments. “We learnt so many things that we could apply at Rafidia Hospital. We observed that there are staff in each department in the hospital that manage the coordination between the patient and the doctors or specialists, making the patient’s journey from diagnosis to treatment much smoother,” she explained. “Within 10 days, the coordinators prepare everything the patient needs, including X-rays, appointments and surgery.”
Areej’s experience focused on advanced radiography techniques, including using prone-positioning equipment, which is both safer and more comfortable for patients, as this technique delivers the radiation to the cancer limiting the exposure to the surrounding organs and tissues, especially the heart and lungs. While this advanced technology is not yet available in the West Bank, Areej plans to adapt these new techniques as best as possible, despite the challenges posed by the outdated equipment.
For breast cancer patients in the West Bank, navigating the healthcare system is a daunting and exhausting task. From biopsy and hormone testing to surgery, each step is delayed by Israeli-imposed movement restrictions and the limited availability of specialised services. Additionally, the scarcity of advanced medical equipment severely hampers the ability of local healthcare workers to provide effective care.
“KHCC handles around 30 cases daily and processes them quickly, while the breast unit at Rafidia Hospital handles around 6 cases only, which is because of our limited capacity and resources,” said Areej.
Shifa and Areej have returned to Nablus inspired and eager to share their new knowledge with their colleagues. However, they also recognise that continued support, training and access to advanced equipment are critical to further improving breast cancer care in the West Bank. “This fellowship was invaluable,” said Shifa. “But we need more training to keep up with the latest global advances.”
MAP is determined to address these challenges head-on. Our future efforts will include sending more healthcare professionals on international training fellowships, conducting multidisciplinary team medical missions, providing supplies and advanced equipment, and maintaining virtual links between experts in the UK and the occupied Palestinian territory.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Palestinian women, and MAP is dedicated to improving the care they receive. With your support, we can continue our work to provide vital training, equipment and resources to healthcare workers in the West Bank.
Donate today to help us bring high-quality breast cancer care to those who need it most.