ReliefWeb

February 1st, 2021 ― Doha: The plastic surgery specialist hired by Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) in Gaza, Dr. Ahmed Al-Maghrabi, has saved a 65-year-old man from the risk of a lower limb amputation.

The patient suffered from a previous injury during an ankle disarticulation, which caused severe ulcers and a soft tissue injury (STI). As a result, the wound remained open, until the patient was brought to the Nasser Medical Complex.

Dr. Al-Maghrabi described the serious case: “Medical examinations showed that the wound did not heal properly, due to the nature of the body itself. The soft tissues could not get self-repaired, so a surgical intervention was required. In a two-hour procedure, we reconnected the Achilles tendon, replaced the patch of skin with a skin graft fed by a blood vessel to take blood to the injured part, and removed all ulcers and dead tissues to prevent chronic inflammations that can lead to amputation”.

This, Dr. Al-Maghrabi explained, is a significant surgery in Gaza. According to him, the patient is currently under observation at the Limb Reconstruction Unit of the Nasser Medical Complex. “He is receiving post-procedure care,” said Dr. Al-Maghrabi. “He is in good health, with no complications”.

The surgery was performed under the Gaza Specialist Surgical Services Support project, co-executed by QRCS and Palestine’s Ministry of Health (MOH) in Gaza.

It involves specialist surgical interventions in orthopedics, cardiovascular surgery, pulmonology, and urology. At a total cost of $1.4 million, other activities of the project include support for patients phenylketonuria (PKU), as well as training programs for medical professionals, such as Master of Health Policy and Administration and Anesthesia and Intensive Care Diploma.

End of Text

About Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS)

Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is a humanitarian volunteering organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination. QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 191 National Societies. QRCS is also a member of several GCC, Arab, and Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Committee of International Crescent and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO). In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian efforts — a role that distinguishes it from other local charities and NGOs. QRCS operates both locally and internationally and has ongoing international relief and development projects in a number of countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. QRCS's humanitarian actions include providing support in disaster preparedness, disaster response, risk reduction, and disaster recovery. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, healthcare, and social development to local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian advocacy front. With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.