AFOPA members Dr Francis Nathan (Ophthalmologist) and Merlin Nathan (Occupational Therapist) report back on their recent visit to Palestine, 15-21 April 2017, with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF).

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Dr Francis Nathan, Opthalmologist
Rafidia Hospital, Nablus (West Bank)

This mission was conducted at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus in the West Bank region of Palestine, 15-21 April 2017 and organised by the Palestine Childrens’ Relief Fund (PCRF).

We had two overseas visitors who came as observers, Dr Musa Abdelaziz, an ophthalmology trainee from the US and Ms Faten Qunqar, an orthoptist (ophthalmic technician) from Melbourne.

Dr Musa spent two days assisting with the surgery and performed some parts of the surgery under supervision.

The local eye surgeon, Dr Anan Matar, prepared all the patients for surgery and will follow their progress over the next few weeks.

Dr Francis Nathan performed 52 surgeries during his April visit. [Photo: F.Nathan]

A new staff member in the Eye Department, Dr Houssam, also attended the operating sessions and he performed parts of some procedures under supervision. He had not been exposed to the current surgical techniques used and he was able to learn rather rapidly. He will be useful in the future as he is trained in the phaco technique and there is a good chance that the department will acquire a machine soon.

Phaco is short for phacoemulsification by which the cataract (caused by clouding of the natural lens in the eye resulting in blurring of vision) is removed through a tiny wound by crushing the cataract and removing it through a smaller wound. It requires a machine and a different set of instruments and consumables.

Fifty-two cataract operations were performed, all receiving lens implants. However one patient experienced a complication with the lens implant dislocating due to excessive bleeding within the eye and had to be referred to the University Department for re-operation. The consultant reassured me that the problem could be rectified successfully after assessing the patient.

I met with the Director of Health, Dr Hamdi Nabulsi (himself an ophthalmologist) to discuss the ongoing program and he was confident that a phaco machine would be available for my next trip in October.

I will need to plan differently for that and will look to acquiring a new set of instruments to introduce and teach the phaco technique.

Once again, I want to thank AFOPA and PCRF for their ongoing support and hope that more funds will be available to purchase new sets of instruments to enhance the delivery of eye care to the needy in Palestine.

Dr Francis Nathan
Ophthalmic Advisor, PCRF

> Read PCRF article on Francis's working visit to Palestine.

Merlin Nathan, Occupational Therapist

My biannual visit to Palestine since 2002 has been a growth experience from a professional and personal perspective.

This recent visit particularly was a paradigm shift in terms of teaching and learning for me. It was unexpected in its professional intensity and personal demands. I had to meet the expectations and keep up with some very avid learners, the Allied Health staff – Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Social Workers, Psychologist and Occupational Therapy students at various centres. It is usually an Occupational Therapy staff, a family member and with the occasional student or two.

The visits were across 4 centres:

Jaleel Centre - Jenin
Autism center - Tulkarm
Child Development Centre - Nablus
Hatha Haqy Society - Salfit

I was generally impressed with the amount of social and emotional support most of the children received from their own families, though two centres raised issues with the occasional child. All parents were open to new learning, raised questions and sought assurances, a tendency across all cultures and borders. All four centres specialised in the rehabilitation of children with a range of disabilities.

Merlin Nathan with a young patient. [Photo: M.Nathan]

The staff was primarily concerned with the management and treatment of children diagnosed with Autism. I was able to develop a 5-page handout that was distributed on my return. After a recent training update, I had access to a wide range of resources meeting Australian Standards, which helped to answer a number of common issues. The handout was to highlight training needs as well as develop a future intensive 4 or 5 day training program for each of the centres planned for my next visit.

I also received a verbal request for academic input at the Arab American University Occupational Therapy Course. Exciting! Invigorating! – So much to achieve for “A noble ideal and a just cause.”

“Exciting! Invigorating! – So much to achieve for ‘A noble ideal and a just cause.’”

— Merlin Nathan, April 2017

Two books of the 'Oliver Tree' messages of hope, a tremendous effort of the Australian Friends of Palestine (AFoPA) WOMADelaide team, were again shared with the people of Palestine. One was handed to a major Philanthropist Abedl Alelah Atterah, who supports Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) efforts in Nablus, and a Palestinian academic and activist, Saed Jamal Abu-Hijleh.

Thanks again to Steve Sosebee, Suhail Flaifl, Hana Abdeen, and Sawsan Soufan of PCRF and also to AFoPA.

Merlin Nathan
Occupational Therapist