Medical staff at Al-Shifa Complex in Gaza City have recorded a remarkable medical achievement amidst the harsh conditions in the Strip, as a surgical team managed to save two-and-a-half-year-old child Yaman Barakat from the risk of permanent motor disability. This success came after a delicate and complex surgical operation on the hip joint, at a time when the health sector is suffering from a near-total collapse due to continuous targeting and a shortage of essential supplies.
The child's mother, Halima Barakat, explained that her child's suffering began from the moment of his birth, as he needed urgent surgical intervention that could not be achieved due to the widespread destruction of the healthcare system and the disruption of travel procedures for treatment abroad. She pointed out that Yaman had an official medical referral for about a year, but the closure of crossings and imposed restrictions prevented his departure, which led to a significant deterioration in his health condition before the operation was performed locally.
The family considered the return of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Faisal Siam to the Gaza Strip as a lifeline for their child, as coordination was made with him to perform the surgery inside Al-Shifa Complex despite the surrounding dangers and lack of equipment. The mother described the decision to perform the operation under these circumstances as a 'necessary risk,' emphasizing that the alternative was to surrender to the reality of permanent disability that would have accompanied her child throughout his life.
For his part, Dr. Faisal Siam, head of the orthopedic surgery department at Al-Shifa Complex, confirmed that this type of surgical intervention requires high technical skill and special techniques, which makes its implementation in an environment lacking the most basic components an unprecedented medical achievement. Medical sources stated that the surgical team is striving to secure the minimum level of care for thousands of injured and sick people who are awaiting their turns on long waiting lists for operations.
Despite the success of the operation, challenges still remain for child Yaman, as he needs an intensive medical follow-up program extending for at least six months to ensure the full success of the surgery. The healthcare system faces severe difficulties in providing post-operative care for patients, amidst the continued siege and the shortage of essential medicines and medical consumables for the recovery and rehabilitation phase.
In a related context, reports issued by the World Health Organization revealed that the rehabilitation of the health sector in Gaza requires huge investments amounting to 10 billion dollars over the next five years. The reports stated that more than 1,800 health facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and laboratories, were completely or partially destroyed, making access to basic medical services extremely difficult.
The humanitarian crisis in the Strip is escalating with the continued evasion of the occupation from its international obligations and ceasefire agreements that stipulated the opening of crossings and facilitating the entry of relief and medical aid. Approximately 1.9 million displaced people face catastrophic living and health conditions, amidst the overcrowding of injured and sick people inside the remaining health facilities that are operating beyond their capacity and with primitive tools.
Performing this operation under the current circumstances is an exceptional achievement, as medical staff are working with almost non-existent capabilities to save thousands of patients.
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Amidst the collapse of the healthcare system.. Al-Shifa Complex saves a child from permanent disability with a complex operation