Under the sound of missiles falling on Gaza, of shooting and artillery, Caritas Jerusalem’s Gaza Medical Center celebrated its 3rd anniversary of its establishment in Gaza City on Saturday, September 2nd 2006.

Under the sound of missiles falling on Gaza, of shooting and artillery, Caritas Jerusalem’s Gaza Medical Center celebrated its 3rd anniversary of its establishment in Gaza City on Saturday, September 2nd 2006. This medical center has been active since 2003 not only in its Gaza City headquarters, but also throughout all of Gaza.

On Saturday, our team of ten people has taken a brief time off from their work of responding to the current emergency situation in Gaza to celebrate. These ten dedicated staff gathered together to hold a very modest party in commemoration of this anniversary.

During the last 3 years, Gaza Medical Center achieved many accomplishments which due to the team spirit and the hard work which fill the hearts of the Caritas’ employees, doctors, nurses and staff as well as the efforts of the administration in Gaza and Jerusalem.

The Caritas Jerusalem Gaza Medical Center has a good reputation among the people, in addition to the credibility and the friendly relations with the people in Gaza City and the whole of Gaza. When a person asks about Caritas, they will hear about Caritas’ contribution in helping and supporting the people in Gaza. The center also enjoys the support of and excellent relations with the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The center has also one of the few mobile clinics operating which reaches the needy and injured people who were harmed by the ongoing problems in Gaza.

During the last 3 years, the center has remained continuously open in the Beach Camp area of Gaza City providing primary health care and referrals to other health care providers in conjunction with our Social Department in Jerusalem to help those who are greater need. The center also conducted many medical campaigns in schools, kindergartens and local organizations where the medical team provided important health information concerning preventative health care, personal hygiene, family, women’s, children’s and infant health and first aid training.

Moreover, the Gaza Medical Center undertook many direct outreach efforts after every Israeli incursion into Gaza in order to treat the Palestinian victims of these actions.

Dr. Bandali said to Caritas’ employees in Gaza, “This success has been achieved because of your great efforts, hard work, cooperation and team spirit. Therefore, we reached this success as a team. Thank you all and keep up the great work.”