[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On Tuesday 24^th of September the NORWAC funded Gaza Pain Management Clinic was opened.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ceremony included greetings from the Assistant Deputy Minister, Dr. Midhat Mohesin and Hospital Director at Al- Shifa Dr. Mohammed Abu Silmia and Ingrid Norstein, Head of Development Cooperation at the Representative Office of Norway to the Palestinian Authority as well as NORWAC staff, Country Director Dr. Marit Lieng and Project Coordinator Dr. Lars-Petter Granan. The local team at the clinic consists of two doctors, two nurses, one pharmacist and one secretary. They have been trained by Dr. Granan and received their first patients as planned on the 23^rd of September.

The goal of the project is to provide effective and available pain management treatment for patients suffering from acute and chronic pain. The main initial focus will be treating injured patients after the Great March of Return. Later, other categories of patients suffering from pain will be included.

Background:  

The projects started in Autumn 2018 as a result of the ongoing assaults from the “Great March of Return” in Gaza. A large number of patients of various age groups are suffering from different physical injuries.  Many of them have undergone critical limb reconstruction surgeries and limb-amputations. Post-operative pain level is suffered in various degrees.

The patients who need longer treatment time and care, are left without help due to the absence of a proper surgical system and a pain management multidisciplinary team. In addition, chronic patients are denied to leave Gaza to get appropriate health care service, which would reduce their levels of pain, especially oncology patients. Hence, there is an urgent need to intervene effectively to help these patients, and this can be achieved by training a local multidisciplinary team in pain management. The governmental hospitals including Al-Shifa do not have a specialized centre or unit that deals with pain management. There are no pain management protocols, nor trained staff to treat patients suffering from acute and chronic pain.

Projects plans: 

• Experts from Oslo University Hospital will continue to train and supervise the newly appointed local team of MoH staff in pain management.
• The opened Gaza Pain Management clinic will treat difficult and selected cases of chronic pain. The clinic will is also intended to be a “hub” and centre of competence; serving the other parts of the project.
• Establishment of an ambulatory pain management service intended to visit the wards at the hospital with follow-up on postoperative pain patients in collaboration with the ward doctors and nurses. A service of continued epidural blocks, nerve blocks and patient controlled anaesthesia (PCA) in selected cases may be a part of this.
• Evaluation of current routines for pain care in the emergency room, including development of protocols and/or guidelines for acute pain care in victims, also including a service of nerve blocks in selected cases.
• Develop and implement standardized pain management protocols.

 

 [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=»1/3″][vc_single_image image=»2358″ img_size=»large» onclick=»img_link_large»][/vc_column][vc_column width=»1/3″][vc_single_image image=»2360″ img_size=»large» onclick=»img_link_large»][/vc_column][vc_column width=»1/3″][vc_single_image image=»2361″ img_size=»large» onclick=»img_link_large»][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=»1/3″][vc_column_text]Country Director Marit Lieng speaking at the opening. Sitting down are Project Coordinator Lars-Petter Granan and Ingrid Norstein from the Representative Office of Norway to the Palestinian Authority.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=»1/3″][vc_column_text]Lars-Petter Granan together with the local team at the clinic. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=»1/3″][vc_column_text]One of the rooms at the spacious and newly refurbished clinic. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]