Ensuring the health of the little ones, of the most vulnerable, starting from the sick children of cancer, even in the contexts of conflict and humanitarian emergency, ensuring that the care, even in emergencies, is never interrupted, is a priority for the Soleterre Foundation, which since 2002 has been working to promote the right to health and to protect the psychological and physical well -being of people in every part of the world. In war contexts, small oncological patients are doubly affected: by the trauma of the disease and from the trauma of conflict, violence, housing. THEn CISGIORDANT, about 10 km south of Jerusalem, a year ago the Foundation started a project to support the Beit Jala Governmental Hospital, The only public hospital remained in Palestine for the treatment of childish cancer and chronic pediatric pathologies. The department has 18 beds: 14 in the department for degents and 4 in the day-hospital. In these contexts, if you do not intervene with international aid, the risk of dying for the impossibility of receiving care is extremely high. To this is added the cost for transport and accommodation near the hospital, totally borne by families, which often come from the most remote and poor areas of Palestine.
Mental health services in the West Bank are limited and are not integrated into traditional health care offered to the population and do not respond to the mental health needs of the communities. In the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank only 15% of children suffering from symptoms related to post -traumatic stress receives psychological support. In Palestine only 250 psychologists are active for 5,558,005 inhabitants: 1 every 22,232.
This is why Soleterre is also creating a center for the treatment of child psychological trauma alongside the pediatric oncology department. The Soleterre Children Center will provide psychological support to patients with cancer patients, pediatric patients in the area of the area and traumatized by the war and their families, and also for healthcare professionals who work on the front line in hospitals and refugee camps in the area. For the operators themselves, in fact, direct contact, daily with the unspeakable suffering of children who have lost their parents, immediately violence or lived dramatic events can lead to developing post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, depression. Psychologically supporting healthcare professionals in war areas is therefore essential to build a more solid and effective support network. The new center will offer equipped rooms and dedicated to psychological support sessions, medical care and rehabilitation rooms, game-therapy rooms and areas designed to accommodate and give assistance to the families of children and health workers.
How they explain to SoleterrePalestinian children have been living an employment reality for years in which structural violence is not accompanied by adequate possibilities of physical and mental care of trauma. The effect of the trauma linked to the war and violence against the mental health of children extends well beyond the acute phases of the conflict and is very difficult to deal with and manage. There is properly talking about “Palestinian syndrome” To refer to a set of symptoms of chronic stress, anxiety and depression found in children both from the Gaza Strip and of West Bank, due to the exposure prolonged to violence. Palestinian citizens live in fact a collective and continuous trauma also called CTSD, Continuous traumatic stress disorder.
Soleterre Foundation is also raising funds for the opening of a center for marrow transplants in Ramallah, Which represents the only hope of survival for many small patients forced to a desperate struggle for life, often deprived of adequate care or transfers. For information on projects and how to help: www.soleterre.org
(Photo of Soleterre: the Pediatric Oncology Department at Beit Jala Governo Hospital)
