Al-Ahli Hospital Report

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Al-Ahli Hospital’s services are delivered in the spirit of love and service: “Serve One Another in Love.” Through their services to the poor, they work to bear witness to God’s Love as manifested in the life of Jesus Christ. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35). Al-Ahli Hospital works diligently to help people impacted by violence, poverty, sicknesses, oppression, and helplessness. Because of their mission and values, the hospital has the trust of both the Christian and Muslim communities.

Gaza
2009-2010

The Episcopal Church Diocese of Jerusalem, a partner with Global Ministries, extends over five countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel within the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. The church supports 33 institutions, which includes hospitals, clinics, kindergartens and schools, vocational training programs, institutions for the deaf, the disabled and the elderly – services that reach out to interfaith neighbors in mutual respect and cooperation. One such program, the Al-Ahli Hospital, was established in 1882 by the Church of Mission Society (CMS) of England and is located in the Gaza Strip area of Palestine. It became a service ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in 1982 and provides important medical and surgical care to all people of the Gaza Strip.

The hospital has a capacity of 80 beds but, due to financial constraints, the hospital management operates only 50 beds. The hospital provides specialized medical care such as orthopedics; plastic surgery; ear, nose and throat (ENT); and urology. Other services include outpatient clinics, 24-hour emergency care, and ambulance service.

Ahli Hospital provides health care services to refugees and residents. It has responded to the needs of the people as they occur and, in particular, during the frequent crises related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The effects of that conflict continue in the form of continuing shortages of resources; increased patient load, especially of impoverished and homeless patients; larger numbers of patients unable to pay for services; and greater numbers of patients with physical and psychosocial disabilities. Disruptions in electricity, fuel, and water supplies are ongoing challenges for hospitals and pose risks to the general health and the environment as well — for example, there are daily sewage spills into the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, health facilities destroyed by bombings have not been rebuilt and hundreds of essential drugs and supplies are unavailable.

Patients are denied access to treatment outside Gaza by both Palestinian and Israeli authorities. The inhabitants of Gaza continue to experience severe hardships, deprivation, and ongoing exposure to violence — these factors are creating increases in mental disorders, severe mental distress, and many different social/psychosocial problems in large segments of the population. The World Health Organization estimates that between 20,000 and 50,000 people will have long-term illness. The problems facing Gaza are very serious today and will have long-term adverse effects on the physical and mental health of the population.

Within the context of the current situation in Gaza, Al-Ahli Hospital continues to respond to the critical health needs of the population.

Highlights of Al-Ahli Hospital’s work in years 2009-2010 include:

Facilities and equipment were updated in the emergency department, the inpatient wards, the blood bank, and the supportive departments.
The ward for gynecology and obstetrics was renovated. The hospital also contracted with a new gynecologist and new graduate midwives who began work in January 2010.
Outpatient medical care services cared for almost 42,000 patients, an increase of 49 percent compared with two years ago. A significant number of patients were treated free of charge due to poverty.
In order to maximize efficiency and increase productivity of laboratory services, arrangements were made to upgrade essential laboratory equipment as well as the blood bank refrigerators.
The radiology department began offering mammograms to women over 40 years old.
The hospital provides pharmacy services to Al-Ahli patients for prescriptions written by the hospital’s doctors.
Al-Ahli trained six staff members to help people deal with mental distress, panic, and mental trauma.
The Al-Ahli Education Committee developed and distributed health education materials on the prevention of communicable diseases such as swine flu. The hospital also coordinated closely with the World Health Organization, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and other health providers to enhance preventive actions of communicable diseases.
Ahli medical teams were formed to provide Outreach Medical Clinics for those unable to reach the hospital. Teams generally consisted of consultants in general surgery, orthopedics, diabetes, heart problems, pediatrics, a social worker, laboratory and x-ray technicians, nurses, drivers, accountant, medical records staff, drivers and logistic staff members. The clinics are offered once or twice a week in places identified as having a need, providing services ranging from medical exams and medications to food as needed.
Three specialized Outpatient Clinics for chronically-ill, disadvantaged women and two clinics for underweight children under five years old were opened at Al-Ahli.

The hospital has also faced difficulties including:

Long hours without electricity and severe shortages of the fuel used to operate the generator have forced some departments to shorten their hours.
Shortages of fuel and difficulties traveling within Gaza have put the outreach program for the southern villages on hold. Fuel shortages and traveling difficulties have also prohibited some staff from reporting to work.

Despite delays in getting the medications and equipment to the hospital, Ahli hospital was able to implement its normal health program and the emergency project because of the funding provided by partners. Because the situation remains unstable, the hospital is continuing the emergency programs for the poor. Al-Ahli Hospital is extremely grateful for the support and prayers for the hospital and its mission to help the poor.

For information on Al-Ahli Hospital and to make a gift in support of their work, click here: http://globalministries.org/mee/projects/alahli-hospital.html