Gaza’s Healthcare System on the Brink: A Doctor’s Account of Trauma, Resilience, and Unanswered Questions
The situation in Gaza is beyond a humanitarian crisis; it’s a catastrophic breakdown of essential systems, particularly healthcare. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams on the ground are witnessing levels of trauma and suffering rarely seen,even in protracted conflict zones. This article draws on a recent interview wiht an MSF medical professional, Dr. Mohamed Badawi (MB), to provide a firsthand account of the challenges, the resilience of Palestinian healthcare workers, and the urgent needs facing the population.
A System Overwhelmed: The Immediate Aftermath and Ongoing Strain
The current conflict has pushed Gaza’s already fragile healthcare infrastructure to its absolute limit. Dr. Badawi vividly describes the scenes following recent escalations: “A volume of wounded people like that in the street, in the health facility, in the waiting rooms… Some of those cases should be hospitalized, but there’s no more beds. The bed capacity is overwhelmed.” This isn’t simply a matter of needing more facilities; it’s a systemic collapse under immense pressure. Even basic surgical procedures are hampered by shortages of supplies, electricity, and, critically, personnel.
The sheer scale of injuries – particularly trauma and burns – is staggering. MSF, along with other organizations, is focusing heavily on these critical areas, providing specialized care for complex wounds affecting a vast number of people. This requires not just medical expertise, but also a coordinated response with other aid organizations to manage the overwhelming demand.
The Unseen Wounds: Mental Health in a Conflict Zone
Beyond the visible physical injuries,the mental health toll on Gazans is immense. The constant bombardment, displacement, loss of loved ones, and pervasive insecurity are creating a generation grappling with profound trauma. Dr. Badawi highlights the extraordinary burden faced by Palestinian healthcare workers themselves.
“Our colleagues are openly sharing with us their feelings,” he explains. “I spoke to a person working with another NGO… and she was saying that if it was just about us, we would stay at home and cry, but we are waking up in the morning just to do our job because patients are there and this is what we need to do.”
These individuals, themselves facing the same hardships as those they serve – starvation, bombing, loss - continue to work, driven by a sense of duty and a desperate need to provide care.Dr. Badawi rightly calls them “heroes.” However,the ability to provide adequate mental health support is severely limited. While MSF integrates psychosocial support into its care for wounded patients and malnutrition programs for children, a complete mental health program for the entire population is currently unfeasible to implement given the scale of the crisis.
Priorities During the Ceasefire: Water, Trauma Care, and Maternal Health
The recent ceasefire offers a critical window to address immediate needs and begin the long process of rebuilding. MSF’s priorities are multifaceted:
* Trauma and Burn Care: this remains the most pressing need, requiring specialized surgical intervention and ongoing wound management for a large population.
* Water Access: Providing clean drinking water is essential to prevent the spread of disease and alleviate suffering. MSF is actively involved in water trucking operations alongside other organizations.
* Maternity and Child Health: Ensuring safe deliveries and providing essential care for children remains a vital focus, even amidst the ongoing crisis.
These efforts are not conducted in isolation.MSF actively collaborates with other aid organizations to maximize impact and avoid duplication of efforts.
A Disturbing Pattern: The Use of Advanced Weaponry and Attacks on Infrastructure
Dr.Badawi’s most poignant observations center on the way the conflict is being waged. He expresses profound shock at the intensity of the violence and the apparent disregard for civilian life.
“What is shocking-and sorry to repeat myself-is the magnitude and the level of harassment with the use of technology like drones. This includes suicide drones. There are bombs that are suppose to target a specific person, but they’re killing, like, everybody within 20 meters.”
He questions the justification for such devastating force, asking repeatedly, ”Why? Why are all those innocent people supposed to die?”
The systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure – hospitals, schools run by the UN – further compounds the tragedy. Dr. Badawi, speaking as a medical professional, struggles to comprehend the rationale behind these attacks. “It’s crazy,” he states simply.
The Urgent Need for Accountability and a Re-evaluation of tactics
The situation
