Gaza – Ma’an – In the heart of the “Basmat Al-Amal” camp, under the scorching sun, the child Mohammed sits in his wheelchair, waiting with eyes full of hope for his turn to receive the polio vaccine, like his peers in the city of Deir al-Balah. Despite the challenges he faces, Mohammed’s dream of a better tomorrow and a bright future still haunts him.
Palestinian Red Crescent crews come to the camp, carrying vaccines in their refrigerators, to provide this vital service directly to children with special needs, relieving them of the hardship of traveling to health centers in the city. With this human touch, they enhance hope in the hearts of these children and their families, providing them with the care they need.
The child Mohammed says that the arrival of the medical teams to their camp has made it easier for his parents to transport him and his sisters with disabilities to the nearest health point. In addition, he expresses his great happiness at the presence of this medical team, indicating that their p
resence makes him feel cared for and looked after, which boosts their morale, in light of these difficult circumstances.
Since the beginning of the war, Red Crescent teams have established camps specially equipped to meet the needs of people with health and physical disabilities, by providing them with comprehensive care that includes shelter, psychological support, food, water, and health protection.
As part of these efforts, Dr. Mohammad Abu Rahma, the association’s director of primary care, accompanied by a team of doctors and nurses, went to the ‘Basmat Al Amal’ camp, which includes 94 families with hearing and motor disabilities. The aim of this visit was to provide polio vaccine to 300 children living in the camp, to ensure their safety and health in these difficult circumstances.
The visit also included the ‘Basmat Al Amal 2’ camp, which includes 35 families of cancer patients, where the team provided the necessary support and care to meet their needs. In these difficult times, these steps reflect t
he commitment of the Palestinian Red Crescent to provide health and humanitarian care to all vulnerable groups, adding a glimmer of hope to the lives of those who need it most.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), under the auspices of the World Health Organization, participated in a national polio vaccination campaign. During the first two days of the campaign, more than 161,000 children under the age of ten were vaccinated in the central region, reflecting the great efforts made to protect children’s health and enhance disease prevention efforts.
In Khan Yunis, the Red Crescent Society intends to launch a campaign to provide polio vaccine in the western areas of the city, starting Thursday, September 5, 2024, for a period of three days.
The campaign will be implemented through Al Amal Hospital, Al Quds Field Hospital, and Al Basa Point.
In addition, mobile teams wil
l set off from these sites to reach as many children in need of the vaccine as possible, with the aim of ensuring that the service reaches all target groups.
Source: Maan News Agency