Tens
of thousands of shekels donated to Rambam Hospital by Palestinian to improve
treatment of childhood cancers and Israeli-Palestinian medical cooperation
after he himself underwent treatment there; 'When I arrived at Rambam, I saw a
medical team caring for patients, but I also saw the suffering of the sick
children,' says donor.
Ilana Messika/TPS|Published: 11.06.17
A Palestinian man donated tens
of thousands of shekels to the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa to improve
treatment of childhood cancers and Israeli-Palestinian medical cooperation
after he himself underwent cancer treatment at the Israeli hospital.
After being diagnosed with
cancer, a senior Palestinian official was directed to Rambam for further
medical examinations and treatment. While hospitalized in the Joseph Fishman
Oncology Center, he met with several families of patients from the Palestinian Authority
and Gaza, and showed a particular interest in the needs of hospitalized
children, both Israeli and foreign.
Photo:
Rambam Hospital Spokesperson's Unit
“When I arrived at Rambam
(Hospital), I saw a medical team caring for patients, but I also saw the
suffering of the sick children,” recalled M. in a statement (Rambam Medical
Center spokespeople said they were not at liberty to reveal the man’s
identity). “Palestinian, Israeli, Syrian and children from other countries
receive treatment in the hospital for a variety of serious illnesses and need
all the help they can get. I decided to contribute as much as I could, both a
humanitarian act and a symbol of solidarity.”
After completing treatment, M.
underwrote the establishment of a children’s recovery room in the Institute of
Radiology, inside the oncology center. The room provides a relaxing and
supportive environment for children before and after chemotherapy and radiotherapy
treatments, among others.
The oncology center opened its
doors in June 2016, but due to lack of funding, patients still receive
radiation therapy in a different building. This accessibly problem requires
patients walking outside to get to the current location of Rambam’s radiation
therapy equipment when moving them hinders their recovery.
Rambam estimates, that
approximately 1,200 Palestinian children and adults from the Palestinian
Authority and Gaza visit the hospital every year for cancer treatment.
“Israeli and Palestinian both
societies suffer from the damage of violence and I am striving towards a
situation where we can all contribute to peace and health,” continues M. “One
where we can take care of children, save lives, share knowledge and train Palestinian
doctors at Rambam Hospital.”
M. added his goal is to improve
the state of health systems and treatment capacities within the Palestinian
Authority and Gaza, and encourage more Palestinians to contribute to health
promotion between the two peoples.
“Medicine is a bridge between
people and I hope that owing to this donation and those which will come after,
we will all live a better tomorrow,” M. concluded.
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