QRCS supports medical training for Gaza physicians
Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is training 60 Gaza physicians in endoscopy under a $60,000 programme. The initiative is part of a project to support specialist surgery services.
Dr Sobhi Skeik, endoscopy trainer at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza, pointed out that, for the past 30 years, endoscopy was utilised in such specialties like cardiothoracic, laparoscopic, cardiovascular, and arthroscopic surgery, ensuring minimally invasive insertion.
“At the training centre, we have four stages of training,” he said. “There is the theoretical background, followed by training simulation in which the trainees are introduced to ways of dissection, cutting, relocation, stitching, and attachment in the interior of the body.
“Then, a biological training simulation is done, by applying the procedures to turkeys, as they are physically similar to human muscles and tissues”.
In the fourth stage, the interns are engaged in surgical operations to watch and learn, and they observe the patients at the department.
According to Dr Skeik, the local medical education curricula lack such practical aspects of endoscopy.
He believes this advanced training would improve the capabilities of graduate physicians, qualifying them to adopt modern methodologies and guidelines of endoscopy.
QRCS pays attention to the capacity-building of Gaza’s medical professionals. In addition to the Gaza Surgical Services Support project, it enhances surgical specialties like cardiothoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and urology.
Also, it sponsors postgraduate programmes, including Master of Health Policies and Management and Diploma of Anaesthesia and ICU.
It supports the treatment of patients with phenylketonuria.
The overall budget for these activities is $1.4mn.