Jul, 2015
Walid Khalil went to the Palestinian Medical Relief Society clinic in Gaza with a runny nose, sore throat and cough.
He had a hard time breathing too. His medical test showed a urinary system infection. He was not surprised.
Walid lives in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City, which was hard-hit by the 2014 Gaza war.
“There is dirt and rubble all over the place in my area and the air is really polluted with it. I find that it is affecting my breathing,” said Walid.
He contracted the ailment last year and since then he swings between recovery and infection. He also sustained a few wounds in his back which healed over time. “But my breathing problems and bladder pain don’t go away,” he said.
There is dirt and rubble all over the place in my area and the air is really polluted with it. I find that it is affecting my breathing.
Walid says the medicines he received before were ineffective, but this time is different. At PRMS, the doctor prescribes Cefuroxime, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It works against a variety of bacterial infections that can attack the skin, chest, ears and sinuses.
Delivery of Antibiotics Helps Poor Health Situation in Gaza
Thanks to a generous donation from long-time partner AmeriCares, Anera delivered Cefuroxime 250 mg tablets to 16 clinics and hospitals in Gaza.
Despite the eight-year blockade of Gaza, Anera has continued to supply the Gaza health sector with vital medical aid for Palestinians struggling to get adequate care.
“It is really a miserable health situation in Gaza. There is a severe lack of medical equipment and medicines,” says PRMS pharmacist Dina Shawa.
Before Walid left the clinic, the pharmacist reminded him to take the antibiotic every 12 hours with food to increase absorption and reduce chances of an upset stomach. “To achieve the most effective results, Walid has to take a full course of the antibiotic even if he feels better while taking the medicine,” explained the pharmacist. Walid promised he would.
