Mahmoud Hammad, Director General of Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, said today, Saturday, that the occupation has prevented, since the beginning of this year, the introduction of nitrous gas to hospitals operating in the Strip.
In statements to the local Al-Aqsa radio station in Gaza, Hammad explained that the gas is used to anesthetize patients when performing surgeries, and pointed out that the ministry performs about 500 surgeries per month, and there are emergency and urgent operations as a result of accidents and cesarean delivery, and there are scheduled operations, all of which are threatened to stop if gas is not introduced. Medical nitrous.
He pointed out that the occupation prevents the entry of empty cans, which threatens the lives of patients with danger or certain death.
The official at the Ministry of Health in Gaza pointed out that there are promises to introduce gas in the coming days, but so far there is no official information about when it will be introduced.
"Companies are supplying about 120 cylinders, each one 27 kilos, filled with nitrous gas, which is enough for one month only," Hammad said.
He stressed that the health sector is a humanitarian guaranteed by all international conventions, noting that the occupation prevents the entry of medical devices, equipment and medicines through the crossings despite the knowledge of all international institutions, including the World Health Organization.
He pointed out that there is a shortage of spare parts for x-ray machines, which has led to the suspension of some of them.
He stated that the Ministry of Health is holding a crisis cell around the clock to provide alternatives to nitrous gas, which is essential in the process of anesthesia and conducting operations.
He pointed out that there are promises to introduce drugs to treat cancer, but so far, no drugs have been introduced, expressing his hope that in the coming days, special drugs for cancer patients will be introduced.
