Two-year-old girl dies from leukemia while waiting to leave Gaza for treatment

From the World Health Organization:  MONTHLY REPORT Referral of Patients from the Gaza Strip October 2010, Summary for October 2010:

  • A two-year-old girl suffering from leukemia died while waiting for an urgent referral to an Israeli hospital. Since January 2009 a total of 33 patients have died while waiting to access hospitals outside Gaza.
  • The percentage of approved patient applications to cross Erez (76.2%) was the lowest in three months.
  • 211 patients (21.6%) had their applications to cross Erez delayed. This is the third highest rate in 2010.

 

Posted in Israel/Palestine | Tagged , ,

{ 12 comments... read them below or add one }

  1. Citizen says:

    Just once I’d like to see a story like this run on American TV News. But having a personal friend who worked many years behind the scene of such a channel I know I won’t hold my breath.

  2. pabelmont says:

    Gee, 76% approved! So high! Israel should win a humanitarian medal for that.

    But how long did people have to wait for the approval, how deeply grovel in order to get it, and how often was disapproval on political grounds (or contrary to best medical practice)?

    Two-year old died while waiting seems a tad callous. Take back that medal.

  3. Israel did all it could for this 2 year old, including transporting her to multiple hospitals.

    Israel even helped the mother deliver her baby in Israel.

    Her father was a member of a terrorist organization and it is reasonable request for the mother to accompany her.

    May she rest in peace.

    • tree says:

      From the WHO report, for MN who thinks every Palestinian is a terrorist:

      Death of Nismah Najiy Abu Lasheen (2 years old)

      Nismah Najiy Abu Lasheen, born on 8 October 2008, died in Gaza of leukemia on 16 October 2010 while waiting for an urgent referral to a hospital in Israel.

      In May 2010 Nismah was referred to Maqassed Hospital in East Jerusalem. The Israeli Authorities refused to allow her father to accompany her so her mother, who was heavily pregnant at the time, went with her instead. Doctors at Maqassed sent Nismah to Augusta Victoria Hospital – also in East Jerusalem – for further diagnosis and treatment. She was sent on from there to Eikhilov Hospital in Israel.

      Nismah’s mother gave birth at Eikhilov Hospital. She returned to Gaza when Nismah’s father was able to obtain a permit and replace her at Nismah’s bedside. Once Nismah had undergone a round of treatment at Eikhilov Hospital she and her father returned home to Gaza.

      On 7 July 2010, Nismah was referred to Rambam Hospital in Israel for emergency treatment. Her father accompanied her. When the treatment was completed, they returned to Gaza.

      On 6 October, an urgent request was yet again submitted to the Israeli Authorities, this time for treatment at Ha-Emek Medical Centre in Afula, Israel. Nismah’s father was due to accompany her. However, no answer to the urgent request was received until 14 October, despite the efforts of the family and the District Liaison Office in Gaza to speed up the process of obtaining a permit. When the permit was finally approved Nismah’s condition had deteriorated to a point where her doctors advised her against travelling.

      In the early hours of 16 October 2010, Nismah died.

      And why did Nismah need treatment outside of Gaza?

      Limited availability of cancer treatments in Gaza

      Nismah’s case illustrates the limited medical treatment available in the Gaza Strip to treat cancer. Each month about 10% of referrals are patients suffering from cancer. Most have to leave Gaza to obtain the necessary treatment.

      The health system in Gaza is unable to provide radiation therapy, one of the main methods used to treat cancer. Israel restricts importation of the necessary material to Gaza, some of which is radioactive. Drugs for chemotherapy, the other main cancer treatment, are often out of stock. They are very expensive and not part of the essential drugs list, therefore, they are not regularly provided by the MoH in Ramallah. Furthermore, Israeli restrictions on the movement of people out of Gaza curtail opportunities for medical staff to receive training in specialized fields such as oncology.

      Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem offers the most advanced care for cancer patients in occupied Palestinian territory. Access to East Jerusalem is, therefore, of utmost importance. Cancer patients referred outside of Gaza are also treated at hospitals in Israel and sometimes in Jordan.

      link to reliefweb.int

      • Sumud says:

        jinx tree!

        Now maxN will provide us with information that this was yet another case of Israel having “aine breira” (no choice) and Israel deeply regrets, is deeply sorry, and deeply saddened, just like they always are when killing civilians.

        Wash, rinse, repeat.

        • tree says:

          I see we both had the same reaction to MN’s post.

          I thought this was a nice insincere touch on his part:

          Israel even helped the mother deliver her baby in Israel.

          After at first forcing her very pregnant mother to accompany Nismah instead of allowing her father to do so, Israel is to be commended for not throwing the mother out on the street when she gave birth during Nismah’s stay in Eikkilov Hospital , according to MN. I doubt the Israeli government helped her deliver her baby.

        • eljay says:

          >> I doubt the Israeli government helped her deliver her baby.

          Not the Israeli government – all of Israel! Good thing Nismah was flexible enough to part her legs wide enough to let everyone help… ;-)

        • potsherd says:

          Why people reply to this troll is beyond me.

    • Sumud says:

      Israel did all it could for this 2 year old, including transporting her to multiple hospitals.

      Some people will justify anything, including the defacto murder of children. Just keep on going with your vile comments maxN, you’re helping the Palestinian cause no end.

      Her father was a member of a terrorist organization and it is reasonable request for the mother to accompany her.

      And you know this how? Link(s) to a credible source please.

      From the WHO report (PDF at Seham’s link), the detailed account of the unnecessary death of Najiy Abu Lasheen:

      Nismah Najiy Abu Lasheen, born on 8 October 2008, died in Gaza of leukemia on 16 October 2010 while waiting for an urgent referral to a hospital in Israel.
      In May 2010 Nismah was referred to Maqassed Hospital in East Jerusalem. The Israeli Authorities refused to allow her father to accompany her so her mother, who was heavily pregnant at the time, went with her instead. Doctors at Maqassed sent Nismah to Augusta Victoria Hospital – also in East Jerusalem – for further diagnosis and treatment. She was sent on from there to Eikhilov Hospital in Israel.

      Nismah’s mother gave birth at Eikhilov Hospital. She returned to Gaza when Nismah’s father was able to obtain a permit and replace her at Nismah’s bedside. Once Nismah had undergone a round of treatment at Eikhilov Hospital she and her father returned home to Gaza.

      On 7 July 2010, Nismah was referred to Rambam Hospital in Israel for emergency treatment. Her father accompanied her. When the treatment was completed, they returned to Gaza.

      On 6 October, an urgent request was yet again submitted to the Israeli Authorities, this time for treatment at Ha-Emek Medical Centre in Afula, Israel. Nismah’s father was due to accompany her. However, no answer to the urgent request was received until 14 October, despite the efforts of the family and the District Liaison Office in Gaza to speed up the process of obtaining a permit. When the permit was finally approved Nismah’s condition had deteriorated to a point where her doctors advised her against travelling.

      In the early hours of 16 October 2010, Nismah died.

      The bolded text indicates Nismah’s father made at least two trips to Israel – some “terrorist”.

      There’s a photo of Nismah in the PDF report, a beautiful little girl Israel deemed not worthy of life.

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