Head of Nephrology Department at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza: Death Threatens Kidney Patients

Head of the Nephrology Department at Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza Dr. Ghazi Alyazji warned of the serious repercussions on the lives of kidney patients residing in the Gaza and North governorates, who were greatly affected by the ongoing Israeli occupation genocide on the Strip, during which the occupation murdered many of them. In exclusive remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Alyazji said that the war claimed the lives of various kidney patients for several reasons, the first of which was the forced cessation of kidney dialysis machines after the occupation forces destroyed the Al-Shifa Medical Complex, and the kidney dialysis department went out of service before it was partially restarted. He emphasized that the cessation of kidney dialysis operations during the periods of the ground invasion led to the accumulation of fluids in the patients' bodies, and an increase in the percentage of potassium and urea in them, which further complicated their health condition, and led to the death of a number o f them. He indicated that the second reason is that kidney patients are affected by the famine that is sweeping the residents of northern Gaza as a result of the occupation forces preventing the entry of vegetables, meat, and fruits. He pointed out that kidney patients need a diet based on fruits and vegetables, and to stay away from canned foods that contain a high percentage of preservatives, which leads to an increase in the percentage of phosphorus and urea in them, and thus causes them health complications. He noted that the absence of healthy food and the increase in water pollution caused the deterioration of the health of a number of patients whose conditions were stable, and they now need a life-saving dialysis operation. He pointed out that the Ministry of Health in Gaza is making efforts to restore and operate some of the departments that were destroyed by the occupation, as the nephrology department in the Al-Shifa Medical Complex was rehabilitated and 21 dialysis machines were re-operated out o f the 70 that were operating before they were destroyed by the Israeli army. He indicated that to overcome the shortage of dialysis machines, medical supplies, laboratory equipment, and the severe shortage of fuel needed to operate the department, the medical teams reduced the number of weekly dialysis sessions that the patient needs, which affected the health condition of a number of patients. The Head of the Nephrology Department at Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza stressed that the occupation army destroyed the water treatment unit of the kidney dialysis department, which is designated for the operation of the devices, forcing the medical teams to use well water that reduces the efficiency of the devices. He appealed to international health organizations and institutions to intervene urgently to compensate for the needs of kidney patients in terms of devices, medicines, medical supplies, and laboratory tools to preserve their lives, as death threatens them at any moment. The Ministry of Health in the Gaz a Strip had warned of the danger to the lives of a thousand kidney dialysis patients due to the severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies, explaining that hospitals and health centers suffer from a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies necessary to continue providing the necessary medical services to save the lives of patients and the injured, whose stock has become zero, or is about to run out. In turn, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor in Gaza said that it records various daily deaths resulting from the arbitrary siege imposed by the Israeli entity on the Gaza Strip, and its continued prevention of the entry of medical supplies, especially kidney patients and the elderly who need medicines, treatment, and appropriate health care. (QNA) Source: Qatar News Agency