5 feb 2017
A galaxy of cancer specialists and doctors has called for necessarily establishing a national center specializing in oncology and scientific research on cancer prevention and treatment.
This came during a scientific meeting on cancer prevention held on Saturday at the Islamic University in Gaza in cooperation with the Cancer Research Chair.
In their speeches, the participating doctors stressed the importance of providing schools, universities and NGOs with educational programs to raise public awareness about cancer prevention.
They also highlighted the need to conduct extensive scientific research on methods to prevent and cure cancer, provide the medical sector in Gaza with vaccines against cancer and develop medical cadres working in this field.
They also called for utilizing certain survey programs to early detect cancer and talked about ways to cure different types of the disease.
This came during a scientific meeting on cancer prevention held on Saturday at the Islamic University in Gaza in cooperation with the Cancer Research Chair.
In their speeches, the participating doctors stressed the importance of providing schools, universities and NGOs with educational programs to raise public awareness about cancer prevention.
They also highlighted the need to conduct extensive scientific research on methods to prevent and cure cancer, provide the medical sector in Gaza with vaccines against cancer and develop medical cadres working in this field.
They also called for utilizing certain survey programs to early detect cancer and talked about ways to cure different types of the disease.
Palestinian Ministry of Health official statistics revealed that the rate of cancer patients in Palestine reached 83.8 per one 100 thousand persons, 83.9 cases per 100 thousand persons in Gaza and 83.8 cases per 100 thousand persons in the West Bank.
The Ministry of Health said in a statistical report, on World Cancer Day Feb 4, that 52.5% of the new cancer cases are females and 47.4% are males.
In 2015, 3,927 new cancer cases were reported in Palestine, 2,400 of which were in the West Bank and 1,527 were in the Gaza Strip, the report added.
The Ministry pointed out that 34.4% of the cancer cases occurred in the age group of above than 65 years, which equals 2.9% of the population. However, 59.8% of the cancer cases occurred in the age group of 15-64 and 6.8% of the cancer cases occurred in the age group of less than 15.
Breast cancer ranks first
Breast cancer ranks first since it constitutes 17.8% of all cancer cases, according to Dr. Jawad al-Bitar, the director of the ministry’s Health Information Center.
“Breast cancer also came first for cancers that affect women in Palestine, which reached 33.7% with a rate of 33.1 new cases per 100 thousand females in Palestine annually,” he added.
Colon Cancer comes second regarding cancer cases with the rate of 9.4%. Lung cancer comes third with the rate of 8.7%, but it its ranked first for cancers that affect males, which reached 14.3% and 12.3% new cases per 100 thousand males in Palestine annually, he pointed out.
The data of the National Cancer Registry in Palestine, a section of the Health Information Center, shows that the five cancers, breasts, lung, colon, leukemia and brain, constitute a rate of 58.6% of the cancer cases leading to death among Palestinians, more than half cancer deaths in Palestine.
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Leukemia is the most common among children with a rate of 30.2% followed by brain cancer with a rate of 18.5%, he continued.
Al-Bitar pointed out that in the past five years cancer was the second leading cause of death in Palestine after cardiovascular diseases.
Cancer caused 13.8% of deaths in Palestine
The Ministry of Health said that 13.8% of Palestinians die because of cancer, 13.2% of which are in Gaza and 14.1% are in the West Bank.
In 2015, 1,746 Palestinians died because of cancer, 656 were in Gaza and 1,090 were in the West Bank.
Cancer deaths among Palestinians reached 42 deaths per 100 thousand persons, 52.9% were males and 47.1% were females, the report explained.
Meanwhile, lung cancer ranks first in deaths caused by cancer in Palestine, 17.5%, followed by colon cancer, 12.4%. Breast cancer reached a rate of 11.2% of deaths caused by cancer in Palestine followed by brain cancer, 11.2%, and leukemia, 8.6%, the Ministry of Health said.
For males who died because of cancer, lung cancer was the main cause with a rate of 27%, 27.5% of which are in Gaza and 26.7% are in the West Bank, followed by Colon cancer with a rate of 11.2%. For females, however, breast cancer ranks first regarding deaths caused by cancer with a rate of 23.2%, 22.8% in Gaza and 23.3% in the West Bank, followed by colon cancer with a rate of 13.7%, the Ministry added.
Number one leading cause of death worldwide
The fourth of February marks World Cancer Day in which the Palestinian Ministry of health joins the International Union against Cancer and the World Health Organization to promote ways to ease the burden of cancer as efforts are focused on the importance of prevention of cancer, detection of early signs of cancer, and improving the life quality of patients.
The campaign in 2017 aims at taking a positive attitude through the publication of hopeful messages about fighting cancer with a motto of “We can. I can,” which means we can fight cancer by making the right choices.
Cancer is now ranked as the first leading cause of death worldwide in which most cases occur due to high body mass and obesity rate, lack of eating fruits and vegetables, lack of physical activity, and smoking, as well as other factors.
Efforts to develop current services
According to the report, the Ministry of Health is exerting enormous efforts to develop its services and capabilities in this area by spending millions of dollars of its budget to treat cancer patients.
In this regard, Health Minister, Jawad Awad, said that he is working tirelessly to establish Martyr Khaled Hassan Medical Center for Cancer and bone marrow to resettle many therapeutic services in order to ease and end the suffering of many Palestinian families.
The Ministry of Health carried out, with partners from health providers, a national strategy for prevention and control of cancer, which seeks to reduce cancer cases among Palestinian citizens through preventive measures and programs for the early detection in addition to providing appropriate care for patients, he added.
Also, the Ministry of Health has adopted a free national survey of breast cancer among Palestinian women. For this purpose, the Ministry provided in all provinces mammography devices, he continued.
Cancer patients are being diagnosed and treated in the hospitals of the Ministry of Health particularly at Al-Hussein Hospital in Beit Jala, which is considered the main center in the West Bank. The hospital’s section for treating children tumors named “Huda al-Masri”, was designed according to international specifications, he added.
The Ministry of Health said in a statistical report, on World Cancer Day Feb 4, that 52.5% of the new cancer cases are females and 47.4% are males.
In 2015, 3,927 new cancer cases were reported in Palestine, 2,400 of which were in the West Bank and 1,527 were in the Gaza Strip, the report added.
The Ministry pointed out that 34.4% of the cancer cases occurred in the age group of above than 65 years, which equals 2.9% of the population. However, 59.8% of the cancer cases occurred in the age group of 15-64 and 6.8% of the cancer cases occurred in the age group of less than 15.
Breast cancer ranks first
Breast cancer ranks first since it constitutes 17.8% of all cancer cases, according to Dr. Jawad al-Bitar, the director of the ministry’s Health Information Center.
“Breast cancer also came first for cancers that affect women in Palestine, which reached 33.7% with a rate of 33.1 new cases per 100 thousand females in Palestine annually,” he added.
Colon Cancer comes second regarding cancer cases with the rate of 9.4%. Lung cancer comes third with the rate of 8.7%, but it its ranked first for cancers that affect males, which reached 14.3% and 12.3% new cases per 100 thousand males in Palestine annually, he pointed out.
The data of the National Cancer Registry in Palestine, a section of the Health Information Center, shows that the five cancers, breasts, lung, colon, leukemia and brain, constitute a rate of 58.6% of the cancer cases leading to death among Palestinians, more than half cancer deaths in Palestine.
.
Leukemia is the most common among children with a rate of 30.2% followed by brain cancer with a rate of 18.5%, he continued.
Al-Bitar pointed out that in the past five years cancer was the second leading cause of death in Palestine after cardiovascular diseases.
Cancer caused 13.8% of deaths in Palestine
The Ministry of Health said that 13.8% of Palestinians die because of cancer, 13.2% of which are in Gaza and 14.1% are in the West Bank.
In 2015, 1,746 Palestinians died because of cancer, 656 were in Gaza and 1,090 were in the West Bank.
Cancer deaths among Palestinians reached 42 deaths per 100 thousand persons, 52.9% were males and 47.1% were females, the report explained.
Meanwhile, lung cancer ranks first in deaths caused by cancer in Palestine, 17.5%, followed by colon cancer, 12.4%. Breast cancer reached a rate of 11.2% of deaths caused by cancer in Palestine followed by brain cancer, 11.2%, and leukemia, 8.6%, the Ministry of Health said.
For males who died because of cancer, lung cancer was the main cause with a rate of 27%, 27.5% of which are in Gaza and 26.7% are in the West Bank, followed by Colon cancer with a rate of 11.2%. For females, however, breast cancer ranks first regarding deaths caused by cancer with a rate of 23.2%, 22.8% in Gaza and 23.3% in the West Bank, followed by colon cancer with a rate of 13.7%, the Ministry added.
Number one leading cause of death worldwide
The fourth of February marks World Cancer Day in which the Palestinian Ministry of health joins the International Union against Cancer and the World Health Organization to promote ways to ease the burden of cancer as efforts are focused on the importance of prevention of cancer, detection of early signs of cancer, and improving the life quality of patients.
The campaign in 2017 aims at taking a positive attitude through the publication of hopeful messages about fighting cancer with a motto of “We can. I can,” which means we can fight cancer by making the right choices.
Cancer is now ranked as the first leading cause of death worldwide in which most cases occur due to high body mass and obesity rate, lack of eating fruits and vegetables, lack of physical activity, and smoking, as well as other factors.
Efforts to develop current services
According to the report, the Ministry of Health is exerting enormous efforts to develop its services and capabilities in this area by spending millions of dollars of its budget to treat cancer patients.
In this regard, Health Minister, Jawad Awad, said that he is working tirelessly to establish Martyr Khaled Hassan Medical Center for Cancer and bone marrow to resettle many therapeutic services in order to ease and end the suffering of many Palestinian families.
The Ministry of Health carried out, with partners from health providers, a national strategy for prevention and control of cancer, which seeks to reduce cancer cases among Palestinian citizens through preventive measures and programs for the early detection in addition to providing appropriate care for patients, he added.
Also, the Ministry of Health has adopted a free national survey of breast cancer among Palestinian women. For this purpose, the Ministry provided in all provinces mammography devices, he continued.
Cancer patients are being diagnosed and treated in the hospitals of the Ministry of Health particularly at Al-Hussein Hospital in Beit Jala, which is considered the main center in the West Bank. The hospital’s section for treating children tumors named “Huda al-Masri”, was designed according to international specifications, he added.
4 feb 2017
Aida Hillis, a doctor at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said on Saturday that nearly one-third of cancer cases can be avoided due to the development of medicine and the techniques of treatment and diagnosis.
During a seminar organized by Basmat Amal association for cancer care in cooperation with the Ministry of Health in Gaza on the World Cancer Day, Hillis pointed out that the patient can follow a healthy diet that leads to the early detection of cancer and thus providing a big chance of recovery.
She clarified that there are about 100 types of cancer which can infect any part of the human body, noting that colon and lung cancer are the most prevalent among men, while breast cancer is the most common among women.
Hillis affirmed that the Palestinian Ministry of Health is exerting massive efforts, despite the difficulties it faces, to keep up with the global medical advances as much as possible to deal with and treat cancer. She called for boosting endeavors to combat cancer and spread awareness about one of the most prominent causes of death in the world.
Khaled Lafi, director of Basmat Amal association, said that it is incumbent on everyone to exert efforts to put an end to the tragedies that cancer causes.
Lafi pointed out that his association works to find ways to mitigate the suffering of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip and contribute to their treatment "amid the difficult conditions caused by the blockade and Israel's deprivation of cancer patients of traveling abroad for treatment."
He noted that some types of cancer can be prevented and other types can be cured if diagnosed and treated early, adding that his association is using its full potential to help treat cancer patients through its varied awareness programs.
The number of cancer patients who benefit from the services provided by Basmat Amal association reached lately 2,500 and it is still increasing, according to Lafi.
Basmat Amal director called on all national and concerned institutions to cooperate and make constructive efforts to serve this vulnerable segment of society that needs support and assistance.
A number of studies asserted that the number of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip is on the rise. The studies pointed to the increased number of deaths caused by cancer due to the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip preventing entry of medications and devices needed for cancer treatment, other than the travel deprivation on most cancer patients to receive the necessary treatment abroad.
During a seminar organized by Basmat Amal association for cancer care in cooperation with the Ministry of Health in Gaza on the World Cancer Day, Hillis pointed out that the patient can follow a healthy diet that leads to the early detection of cancer and thus providing a big chance of recovery.
She clarified that there are about 100 types of cancer which can infect any part of the human body, noting that colon and lung cancer are the most prevalent among men, while breast cancer is the most common among women.
Hillis affirmed that the Palestinian Ministry of Health is exerting massive efforts, despite the difficulties it faces, to keep up with the global medical advances as much as possible to deal with and treat cancer. She called for boosting endeavors to combat cancer and spread awareness about one of the most prominent causes of death in the world.
Khaled Lafi, director of Basmat Amal association, said that it is incumbent on everyone to exert efforts to put an end to the tragedies that cancer causes.
Lafi pointed out that his association works to find ways to mitigate the suffering of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip and contribute to their treatment "amid the difficult conditions caused by the blockade and Israel's deprivation of cancer patients of traveling abroad for treatment."
He noted that some types of cancer can be prevented and other types can be cured if diagnosed and treated early, adding that his association is using its full potential to help treat cancer patients through its varied awareness programs.
The number of cancer patients who benefit from the services provided by Basmat Amal association reached lately 2,500 and it is still increasing, according to Lafi.
Basmat Amal director called on all national and concerned institutions to cooperate and make constructive efforts to serve this vulnerable segment of society that needs support and assistance.
A number of studies asserted that the number of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip is on the rise. The studies pointed to the increased number of deaths caused by cancer due to the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip preventing entry of medications and devices needed for cancer treatment, other than the travel deprivation on most cancer patients to receive the necessary treatment abroad.
23 jan 2017
A Palestinian human rights center said on Monday that there is an increase in the number of fatalities among the Gazan patients who are banned from travelling to receive medical treatment in the hospitals of the West Bank, Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories.
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights highlighted in a statement an increase in the number of the Gazan patients whose exit permits, which allow them to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, were rejected by Israel since the beginning of 2016. The statement added that cancer patients represent from 50% to 60% of those patients.
The Center pointed out that the Coordination and Liaison Department at the Ministry of Health filed in 2015, 21,873 requests to the Israeli authorities to issue these permits and provide the required approvals. The Israeli authorities approved 16,988 requests, which represent 77.66%, and rejected 1,244 requests, while the remaining requests remained unanswered.
The Department applied for 26,277 permits in 2016, the center added. 16,289 of the requests, representing 61%, were approved, 1,725 were rejected, and the other requests remained under consideration.
The Center pointed to a noticeable decrease in the approved requests during December 2016 which amounted to 40%.
The human rights center documented the death of Ahmad Shubeir, 17, a resident of al-Nasr neighborhood in Gaza City, on 14th January 2017 after the Israeli authorities prevented him from travelling for medical treatment.
Quoting Ahmad's father, al-Mezan center said that Ahmad had been suffering since his birth from congenital heart defects, and his mother had accompanied him several times to the hospitals of the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories through Beit Hanoun crossing.
The father said, "After my son made considerable progress in his therapy which started from birth, the Israeli authorities prevented him from completing his treatment." He added that the family received no response to the permit application they filed in February 2016, and the Israeli authorities summoned the mother for a security interview at the crossing and asked her to cooperate with them in return for allowing her son to travel.
He continued, "My wife refused to cooperate with the Israeli authorities, and after long hours of waiting they let her and our child in." On 10th September and 10th October 2016 the family applied for two exit permits but received no response for any. On 3rd November 2016 they received a rejection for the third request.
He added that the Israeli intelligence also summoned his child for an interview at Beit Hanoun crossing and blackmailed him to cooperate with them to get the permit to pass. The father affirmed that his son refused the offer and as a result he was denied travel. Shubeir, who got a permit to pass on 30th January 2017, died after his health condition deteriorated.
Al-Mezan center expressed concern over the escalating Israeli violations against the Palestinian patients which deny them access to hospitals and deprive them of their right of health care. It called for the formation of an impartial investigation committee to thoroughly examine and expose the crime Israel committed against the child Shubeir and other similar crimes.
The Center called on the international community to act urgently to stop the ongoing Israeli violations and work to lift the blockade immediately.
It also called for more campaigns and pressures on the local, regional and international levels to expose the Israeli occupation's practices.
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights highlighted in a statement an increase in the number of the Gazan patients whose exit permits, which allow them to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, were rejected by Israel since the beginning of 2016. The statement added that cancer patients represent from 50% to 60% of those patients.
The Center pointed out that the Coordination and Liaison Department at the Ministry of Health filed in 2015, 21,873 requests to the Israeli authorities to issue these permits and provide the required approvals. The Israeli authorities approved 16,988 requests, which represent 77.66%, and rejected 1,244 requests, while the remaining requests remained unanswered.
The Department applied for 26,277 permits in 2016, the center added. 16,289 of the requests, representing 61%, were approved, 1,725 were rejected, and the other requests remained under consideration.
The Center pointed to a noticeable decrease in the approved requests during December 2016 which amounted to 40%.
The human rights center documented the death of Ahmad Shubeir, 17, a resident of al-Nasr neighborhood in Gaza City, on 14th January 2017 after the Israeli authorities prevented him from travelling for medical treatment.
Quoting Ahmad's father, al-Mezan center said that Ahmad had been suffering since his birth from congenital heart defects, and his mother had accompanied him several times to the hospitals of the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories through Beit Hanoun crossing.
The father said, "After my son made considerable progress in his therapy which started from birth, the Israeli authorities prevented him from completing his treatment." He added that the family received no response to the permit application they filed in February 2016, and the Israeli authorities summoned the mother for a security interview at the crossing and asked her to cooperate with them in return for allowing her son to travel.
He continued, "My wife refused to cooperate with the Israeli authorities, and after long hours of waiting they let her and our child in." On 10th September and 10th October 2016 the family applied for two exit permits but received no response for any. On 3rd November 2016 they received a rejection for the third request.
He added that the Israeli intelligence also summoned his child for an interview at Beit Hanoun crossing and blackmailed him to cooperate with them to get the permit to pass. The father affirmed that his son refused the offer and as a result he was denied travel. Shubeir, who got a permit to pass on 30th January 2017, died after his health condition deteriorated.
Al-Mezan center expressed concern over the escalating Israeli violations against the Palestinian patients which deny them access to hospitals and deprive them of their right of health care. It called for the formation of an impartial investigation committee to thoroughly examine and expose the crime Israel committed against the child Shubeir and other similar crimes.
The Center called on the international community to act urgently to stop the ongoing Israeli violations and work to lift the blockade immediately.
It also called for more campaigns and pressures on the local, regional and international levels to expose the Israeli occupation's practices.
11 jan 2017
Israeli special forces arrested two Palestinian doctors on Wednesday after storming a clinic in Shu'fat refugee camp to the northeast of occupied Jerusalem.
According to local sources, a special Israeli force broke into the camp in the afternoon amid heavy firing of sound and gas bombs.
The Israeli force raided a clinic in the camp and arrested two doctors, the sources said, pointing out that both of them have Palestinian IDs.
The Israeli forces conduct regular raids into the camp while students are leaving their schools spreading fear and panic among them.
According to local sources, a special Israeli force broke into the camp in the afternoon amid heavy firing of sound and gas bombs.
The Israeli force raided a clinic in the camp and arrested two doctors, the sources said, pointing out that both of them have Palestinian IDs.
The Israeli forces conduct regular raids into the camp while students are leaving their schools spreading fear and panic among them.
5 jan 2017
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Tuesday night have opened fire at the vehicle of the undersecretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, on his way from his office in Ramallah to Bethlehem.
Israeli occupation soldiers have deliberately opened fire on the car of Dr. As’ad al-Ramlawi when it was near the al-Ram town, in Ramallah.
The ministry confirmed in a press statement on Wednesday that the undersecretary was not hurt in the shooting. However, the vehicle's front glass was severely damaged.
Israeli occupation soldiers have deliberately opened fire on the car of Dr. As’ad al-Ramlawi when it was near the al-Ram town, in Ramallah.
The ministry confirmed in a press statement on Wednesday that the undersecretary was not hurt in the shooting. However, the vehicle's front glass was severely damaged.
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