Providing Shifa Hospital needed medicine to treat autoimmune diseases
Shifa Hospital is the main hospital in Gaza and there is always an urgent need for medicines that are constantly in short supply. That includes adalimumab, an injectable medicine to treat autoimmune diseases.
Thanks to the medical donation program and a generous donation from Direct Relief, Anera has provided a shipment of the medicine to the Gaza hospital. The shipment also included cold chain medicines used in anesthesia rocuronium bromide.
Adalimumab injection is used to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, as well as other ailments like Crohn's disease and plaque psoriasis.
Rana Al Samak runs the external pharmacy department at Shifa Hospital. She says adalimumab was not widely available in the past. With Anera’s shipment, the hospital was able to treat a large percentage of patients. "There is a high demand from patients who are always waiting for this injection as most of the medicines for autoimmune diseases have run out. The new supply of the medicine benefited so many patients."
She says that, due to its effectiveness, the injection is in high demand. "When the supply is cut off, the patient’s condition worsens. There are a number of patients who are on the waiting list because it is essential for their treatment." She says 139 patients have benefited from the shipment. But, she adds that the need is still great.
"There are a number of patients who are on the waiting list because it is essential for their treatment."
Tawfiq, 44 years old, suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that causes inflammation of the joints and spinal ligaments.
"Symptoms appeared five years ago when I was playing sports," he says. "I was suffering severe back pain that developed into complete stiffness."
Tawfiq says the doctors had difficulty diagnosing the disease and gave him muscle relaxants. The pain eventually extended to his feet.
Tawfiq consulted a relative who works as a doctor outside Gaza. He diagnosed the genetic disease and suggested the adalimumab injection that was provided by Anera at Shifa Hospital. "It was like a magic cure for me. I was suffering from curvature of my back but it gradually disappeared after I took the injection. [Adalimumab] is an effective physical and psychological treatment for me and I am willing to fight for it because it cured my problem."
Tawfiq needs the injection every two weeks for a whole year, according to the doctor’s recommendations, but the injection is not available in local pharmacies because of its exorbitant price.
“I thank Anera from the bottom of my heart for providing this medicine and hope it can be provided to all patients who suffer from similar diseases.”
"[Adalimumab] was like a magic cure for me. I was suffering from curvature of my back but it gradually disappeared after I took the injection."
Gaza
Gaza City Governorate
In 1984, Anera’s Gaza City office opened with three staff members. It is still at the same location today, but with 17 staff members. From that location, the team manages water and sanitation, education, healthcare, economic development, and humanitarian relief projects throughout Gaza.
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