Doctors Forced to Perform Amputations due to Lack of Resources
Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, doctors are being forced to perform amputations due to a lack of resources and proper treatment options. Shaimaa Nabahin, a 22-year-old university student, recently had her leg amputated after suffering from blood poisoning caused by an Israeli airstrike. The World Health Organization and the Health Ministry in Gaza report that amputations have become commonplace, but exact figures are unknown. The limited number of operational hospitals, overcrowding, and lack of essential equipment have all contributed to the rise in amputations.
Experts believe that with proper treatment, some limbs could have been saved. However, due to the severity of the injuries sustained during the conflict, many limbs are not salvageable and need to be removed as soon as possible. The acute lack of vascular surgeons, who are best positioned to save limbs, has also increased the likelihood of amputations. The situation is further exacerbated by the difficulty wounded individuals face in reaching the remaining hospitals, as they are often pinned down by ongoing Israeli bombardment and ground combat.
Before the conflict, Gaza’s health system was already overwhelmed due to years of conflict and a blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt. This made it difficult for amputees to receive the necessary prostheses to lead active lives. Now, with 85% of the population displaced and basic supplies scarce, the conditions for amputees in Gaza are near-impossible.
Desperate Circumstances for Amputees
For individuals like Shaimaa Nabahin, the decision to have a leg amputated has completely changed their lives. Nabahin, once an ambitious university student, now relies on assistance for even the simplest tasks. The pain and discomfort she experiences post-amputation make it difficult for her to sleep without sedatives.
According to Jourdel Francois, an orthopedic surgeon with Doctors Without Borders who worked in Gaza, the risk of post-op infections is high due to poor hygiene conditions and the overwhelming number of patients. Francois recalled a tragic incident where a young girl in urgent need of a double amputation could not be operated on immediately due to the high number of critical injuries. She later died, likely from sepsis.
Many of the new amputees at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza are struggling to come to terms with the significant changes losing a limb has brought to their lives. Nawal Jaber, who had both legs amputated, lost her grandson and witnessed her husband and son being wounded during an Israeli bombardment. She expressed her inability to meet the needs of her children and the profound impact the amputations have had on her life.
Hopes for the Future
Despite the challenging circumstances, individuals like Shaimaa Nabahin remain determined to rebuild their lives. Nabahin’s goal is to leave Gaza, receive a prosthetic limb, and continue her studies in Germany. The road to recovery will be long and difficult, but these individuals remain hopeful that they can regain some sense of normalcy.
As the conflict in Gaza persists, it is essential to address the urgent medical needs of amputees and provide them with the necessary resources for recovery and rehabilitation.
