Sep, 2016
When a group of three Idhna villagers entered Dr. Jibreel’s humble office at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, they exchanged salaams and chatted like old friends.
With a population of about 20,000, Idhna lies in the governorate of Hebron in the southern West Bank. Its residents usually know their neighbors and all their personal problems. One of those problems is the high rate of skin infections due to polluted water.
In this town, residents lack regular access to clean water. Water flows to Idhna only once a month, so people have to store water and regulate its usage. Waste dumped by nearby settlers often contaminates the little water Idhna gets, and it’s stored in unhygienic tanks and wells. The contaminated water, together with summer heat and humidity, inevitably leads to a multitude of skin infections. It’s futile to even practice good hygiene when the water isn’t clean.
“Because of the weather and the water situation in Idhna,” says Dr. Jibreel, “we see about 7 to 10 cases of different types of skin infections in the summer.”
Donated medicine combats infections
A vital AmeriCares donation, however, has brought the people of Idhna the medicine they need. Anera delivered Nystatin, a topical powder used to treat skin infections, through the medical and relief program. The Idhna PRCS received 36 bottles.
Sumaya Dheeb, 60, uses Nystatin for breast fungus, but her three sons use it to treat their athlete’s foot. “They could not come here because they couldn’t miss work. So I am here to speak for them,” she said as she smiled. “My sons have degrees from universities. One studied anesthesiology, the other accounting, and the third languages and translation, but they did not find jobs in their fields and ended up in construction.”
“I am not exaggerating when I say that we are a struggling community,” said Walid. “Which is why we are very thankful to Anera and the donors. It’s also a very effective medicine! You should know that we are grateful for everything you do.”
Supporting families with medical aid in Palestine
Ismail and Walid are distant relatives sharing the family name of Atumaizeh, one of the largest families in Idhna. Both are in their forties and are construction workers. They are also fathers of young and growing families. Their children are their motivation to continue working hard, and Nystatin helps them provide for their loved ones.
“I am not exaggerating when I say that we are a struggling community,” said Walid. “Which is why we are very thankful to Anera and the donors. It’s also a very effective medicine! You should know that we are grateful for everything you do.”
It’s no surprise that Idhna means ‘firm’ and ‘strong’ – it must be named after its people who remain strong against today’s difficulties. Despite all the obstacles, their smiles and hard work are proof of their hope and perseverance.
This delivery of vital medicines was made possible with funding from Zakat Foundation.
