Jun, 2024
Ahmed lives with diabetes and hypertension — potentially life threatening in the best of circumstances — and far more difficult in the war zone that Gaza has become.
Ahmed, a resilient father of seven from Beit Lahia in the north of Gaza Strip, has faced unimaginable challenges. After two weeks of war, he was forced to evacuate his home multiple times, eventually finding temporary refuge in Khan Younis. Despite the war, Ahmed’s commitment to his family and his work in the Beit Lahia municipality never wavered.
Seven years ago, Ahmed was diagnosed with diabetes, a discovery made during routine tests for a surgical operation. Recently, his situation worsened when he ran out of his diabetes medication. With local governmental and UNRWA clinics unable to supply the necessary medicines, Ahmed was left in a precarious state.
One day, while navigating through the turmoil, Ahmed stumbled upon Anera’s noncommunicable disease (NCD) clinic. Seeing the nurses testing blood sugar and blood pressure, he asked about the availability of diabetes medications and doctor consultations. To his immense relief, he was welcomed warmly and assured that both the medication and medical consultation were available.
Anera recently received a generous donation of medicines from International Health Partners, which included much-needed noncommunicable disease medicines for Gaza. Anera’s staff in Gaza are utilizing these medicines to provide healthcare for patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and more. By testing patients and prescribing the appropriate medications at our NCD clinic in Khan Younis, we have been able to make a significant impact on the health outcomes of displaced people in the area.
Ahmed also suffers from hypertension, a condition he had been unable to manage due to the lack of appropriate medication. He says that finding the Anera’s clinic has lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. Without his medication, Ahmed often felt his blood pressure spike dangerously.
The Added Value of Anera’s NCD Clinic
Ahmed highlighted the significant impact of Anera’s clinic. Even if medications were available at local pharmacies in Gaza, many, like Ahmed, could not afford them due to financial constraints. Moreover, the limited functioning hospitals prioritize life-saving emergencies, making routine consultations nearly impossible. Ahmed recounted his futile attempts to see a doctor at the hospital, often finding none available.
The NCD medications provided through International Health Partners offer hope to patients who know their diagnoses but have lost access to their treatments during the war. Previously, Ahmed and others regularly consulted their doctors and had a steady supply of medications. The war disrupted this essential care, exacerbating their conditions and adding to the constant fear of being harmed by rockets or succumbing to their illnesses.
Ahmed expressed profound gratitude to Anera’s staff for providing such critical services amidst chaos. The proximity of the mobile clinic to his tent significantly eased his access to care, offering a beacon of hope and a sense of uplift in the midst of war.
Ahmed’s story is a testament to the life-saving impact of Anera’s NCD clinic and the vital support from International Health Partners. In a time of extreme crisis, access to medication and medical consultation is not just about health—it’s about restoring dignity, hope, and a semblance of normalcy in the lives of those like Ahmed and his family.
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