BOP has sponsored the arrival of a Chilean medical delegation to Palestine in order to help provide civilians injured during the last military offensive on Gaza with medical care. The delegation comprised seven surgeons, four of whom managed to enter Gaza while the other three operated in Al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem and the Arab Society for Rehabilitation in Bethlehem. The areas of specialization for the Chilean surgeon included open heart surgeries, plastic surgery and anesthesia. The delegation operated on injured civilians in the European Hospital south of the Gaza Strip.
The visit of the Chilean delegation was organized by Bethlehem 2000 Society, which is a charitable society for Palestinian expats in Chile. The society is a BOP partner in corporate social responsibility and both have made contribution to a ceremonious gathering under the title “WE Love Gaza” last month aiming to recruit funds. <ore than USD 500,000 was collected.
As part of the activities of the Chilean delegation in Gaza Strip, Dr Teresa Shomali did more than ten plastic surgery operations for injured civilians. Moreover, the delegation supervised more than 100 surgeries and trained local medical staff and shared information and experiences with them. Members of the delegation will make another visit to the Gaza Strip in February 2015. Dr Shomali, a Palestinian expat from Bethlehem, will join the delegation and do twelve plastic surgeries. The delegation will also have other medical contributions to Palestinians civilians living in the Gaza Strip.
BOP hosted the delegation at its HQ in Gaza. The reception ceremony was attended by BOP Deputy Manager Ala Al-Radwan and Minister of Labor in the PA Government Mamoun Abu Shahla. Al-Radwan gave a brief presentation on the history of BOP and its development. He also spoke about BOP’s campaign “Gaza Si in Our Hearts” that aims to relief Palestinian in Gaza. Moreover, the delegation was introduced to the difficult living conditions in Gaza as a result of the blockade and especially the problems faced by depleted health sector in the strip.
Accompanied by BOP officials, the delegation toured different parts of the Gaza Strip that were affected by the latest military offensive and bombardment especially hospitals and medical centers.
BOP has also organized a special ceremony for the members of the delegation in Ramallah. The delegation was welcomed by BOP General Manager and Chairman Hashim Shawa, Dr Maqassed Hospital Director Rafiq Husseini, physicians and representatives from civil and government medical organizations.
For his part, Shawa praised the Chilean delegation and expressed gratitude for their efforts in helping the Palestinian people and training Palestinian medical staff. The delegation expressed delight to come in a special humanitarian mission to Palestine and provide medical assistance injured civilians. The delegation promised to exert tremendous efforts for the sake of dispatching humanitarian shipments from Chile that include medical supplies, relief items and medicine.