NAAMA President's letter to the president of United States
A copy to Secretary of State
The First International Conference to Rebuild Health Sector in Gaza
January 15, 2024
The National Arab American Medical Association, the Academy of Life Sciences, and the Jordan Medical Association, in collaboration with regional, national, and international medical societies, humanitarian organizations, representatives of UNRWA, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and academic institutions from the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and Australia are set to host their First International Conference on the Needs and Requirements to Rebuild Gaza’s Health Sector.
Under the esteemed patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, this groundbreaking conference will witness the participation of leaders and experts in medicine, healthcare, academics, and humanitarian work. Their collective insights will be compiled into a comprehensive report, addressing the needs and requirements to rebuild Gaza’s healthcare system. The focus is on establishing a future healthcare system ensuring it meets international standards and delivers quality healthcare to the Gaza population, aligned with the guidelines set by the World Health Organization.
Key Highlights of the Conference:
- Presentation of recommendations by experts in medicine, healthcare strategies, academic institutions, and humanitarian organizations.
- Compilation of a report highlighting insights on rebuilding Gaza’s health sector.
- Focus on urgent revitalization and strengthening of healthcare infrastructure in Gaza.
- Sharing of perspectives, best practices, and innovative strategies for the rebuilding of hospitals, clinics, and academic institutions.
Both the National Arab American Medical Association and the Academy of Life Sciences are non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations committed to advancing healthcare initiatives and humanitarian efforts.
The National Arab American Medical Association is the largest educational, cultural and humanitarian association of Arab-American medical professionals in North America.
Gaza Relief Campaign
Raised funds will go to UNRWA in Gaza. The need has never been greater, please help support the besieged people in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza continues to be disastrous as the nonstop “indiscriminate” bombing (as President Biden described it on Dec 12) entered the 3rd month. CNN was the first Western news outlet to be granted access into Gaza, its chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward said in her televised report on December 13: “Now the death toll in Gaza as a result of Israel’s frenzied bombardment currently hovers at roughly 18,000. If you do the math, extrapolating as the U.N. says, that two thirds of the casualties, roughly, are civilians, that is about 11,800 civilians who have been killed in just over two months.”
As an organization of healthcare professionals, we strive to promote health, wellness, and life for all. This goes to the core of our shared beliefs and humanity. NAAMA believes that this is a time to stand up and be counted. We believe that supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is the best way that we can support the humanitarian needs of Gaza’s trapped civilians. The NAAMA Foundation implores all supporters to dig deeply and make generous contributions to this critical fund-raising effort. The need has never been greater, especially now that winter is threatening the 1.9 million people displaced since the beginning of the war according to UNRWA.
Thank you for your support and your compassion.
JOIN NAAMA
NAAMA is proud to be an all inclusive association that acts as the voice of all Arab American healthcare professionals and addresses their professional and cultural needs.
FUTURE EVENTS
NAAMA 33RD INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONVENTION
Announcing the New Date for NAAMA 33rd International Medical Convention Practicing Medicine in an Era of Healthcare
June 27 till July 1st, 2024, Cairo, Egypt
Optional pre and post excursions to Alexandria and/or a Nile Cruise
PAST EVENTS
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
NAAMA President’s Letter
Amman Conference
Good morning.
On behalf of the National Arab American Medical Association, I would like to welcome you all and thank you for attending the first international conference dedicated to rebuilding Gaza’s healthcare system.
The National Arab American Medical Association is as a non-profit, non-political, and non-sectarian organization established in 1975. Our objectives include promoting the professional and cultural identity of our members through engagement in education, philanthropy, and service activities. We aim to serve as the voice of Arab American medical healthcare professionals, and to mobilize our collective expertise and resources to improve the health and well-being of our communities.
Today, it is our responsibility and moral obligation to address the collapsed healthcare system in Gaza. In partnership with the Jordan Medical Association and in collaboration with numerous health and humanitarian organizations worldwide, we are dedicated to rebuilding Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure. The focus of this conference is to assess the needs and requirements to reconstruct Gaza’s health sector, ensuring it meets international standards of quality care as set forth by the World Health Organization.
The state of Gaza’s health system, which was already suboptimal from years of Israeli occupation and blockade, is now in a dire state, and worsening every day. The latest updates show:
- 30 out of 36 hospitals and 53 healthcare centers rendered non-operational.
- 122 ambulances destroyed.
- 339 medical staff members killed and 350 injured.
- 99 healthcare personnel detained by Israeli forces.
The humanitarian toll is incredibly grim and severe in nature. Israel has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians in Gaza. More than 70,000 are seriously injured, with 11,000 in critical conditions requiring urgent treatment. 1.8 million Palestinians have been internally-displaced, seeking shelter in crowded shelters and refugee camps with poor conditions with no access to food, clean water, medicine, or sanitation products. Infectious diseases have spread to 700,000, with 8,000 cases of viral hepatitis pose additional health threats. Severe health risks exist for 60,000 pregnant women, with a sharp rise in miscarriages and post-partum complications. There are 350,000 patients with chronic diseases and 10,000 cancer patients suffering from an intentional lack of medications.
These are not just numbers, but real people suffering who need immediate help. Surgeons are performing amputations without anesthetics; medical personnel are treating the wounded with no antiseptics. The urgency to aid those injured, infected, and vulnerable in Gaza cannot be overstated. Immediate actions, including a ceasefire and safe entry for healthcare personnel and medical supplies, are crucial. The urgent deployment of field and floating hospitals is also necessary to meet immediate essential medical care.
As medical professionals, it is not enough to just “do no harm” to our own patients, but is our duty as members of the healthcare field to intervene in moments of inhumanity.
As we all gather here today setting forth a plan to rebuild Gaza’s healthcare system, we anticipate a productive and immediate outcome from this conference.
Thank you all for attending, and I look forward to working with you all in the upcoming days.
Mahmoud Aqel, MD, PhD, MBA
NAAMA National President 2024
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