Palestine 2023 News
IMET2000 Annual Gala Event on Zoom for Child Refugees, Victims of War, Palestine War, Earthquakes in Syria and many Projects in Palestine
May 18,2023
This year’s Annual Gala event was held virtually via Zoom on Thursday 18 May. We launched with an inspirational speech by the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Dr Hussam Zomlot, thanking the staff of IMET2000 for their tremendous efforts in supporting public health in Palestine. The Board of Trustees, the Executive Council and many friends and supporters of Palestine in the UK; all stayed until the end and enjoyed an uplifting evening together.
The evening then got underway with speeches from the founder of IMET2000, Professor Colin Green, and the CEO, Dr Malik Zaben. Dr Zaben showed great videos of IMET2000’s activities and achievements in the West Bank and Gaza, focusing on improving the mental health of Palestinian children, running training workshops in trauma and lifesaving, and providing specialization grants for medical staff to ensure better health and education future for Palestine. The work of other branches was also showcased in Africa, Syria, and the UK.
Attendees were entertained by entertainer and human rights activist Mark Thomas, who interviewed Colin Green about his 70 years of activism in the Arab world and Palestine in particular. Everyone enjoyed the Arabic music played by young Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza.
In conclusion, this year’s Annual Gala was a great success. We were honored by the wonderful turnout, grateful for the generous donations and look forward to doing it all again next year!
IMET2000-Pal Organised Three Basic Life Support Training Workshops
May,2023
IMET2000 in cooperation with the Arab American University (AAUP) – Jenin and the Modern University College (MUC) – Ramallah organised Three training workshops attended by 28 doctors, nurses and interns from governmental and private hospitals on:
Critical Core Training: Basic Life Support (BLS) training for Healthcare Professionals
The workshops took place at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre at Ramallah and aimed to provide instructions and practical sessions about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for healthcare professionals, Automated External Defibrillation (AED) and First Aid. They were led by certified instructors from American Heart Association(AHA).
IMET2000-Pal Team Attended the Palestinian Scientific Conference on Nursing and Midwifery at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society
May 11,2023
In response to the invitation of the Palestinian Nursing and Midwifery Association to attend the Palestinian Scientific Conference on Nursing and Midwifery to represent IMET2000-Pal, and to reinforce the agreement signed between the two parties, the IMET2000-Pal team participated in the first day of the conference, in the Palestinian Red Crescent building in Ramallah, Al-Bireh
IMET2000-Pal was represented by Ms Marah Qatouni – Nursing Continuing Education Officer and Dr Shahd Idais – Medical Research Officer, who provided an introductory overview of IMET2000, its achievements and activities via booklets at our booth. In addition to displaying videos of our activities over the years.
IMET2000 Organised Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Training Workshop at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre
IMET2000-Pal held a workshop covering advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation attended by 6 doctors and nurses from different hospitals. It was titled:
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Course for Physicians and Nurses
The workshop aims to educate participants on various topics: recognize and manage respiratory and cardiac arrest and peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia, discuss and demonstrate airway management, stroke management, and related pharmacology. It also focuses on effective communication and leadership skills that are crucial within an ACLS team. The workshop was directed by a reliable instructor from the American Heart Association. The training involved the use of medical dolls which helped educate the trainees on how to perform advanced cardiac resuscitation on patients that needed immediate aid and allowed them to practice it. This was alongside an educational and practical explanation provided by the instructor. At the end of the second day, the trainees were assessed to measure their ability to deal with such cases.
IMET2000-Pal Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Modern University Collage at Palestine
May 6,2023
IMET2000-Pal signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Modern University College (MUC) at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre in Ramallah.
This agreement comes within the framework of supporting and implementing joint programmes to develop clinical skills in various trainings and workshops.
The memorandum focuses on IMET2000 adopting the MUC as a centre for Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) training since the MUC is an accredited life support centre approved by the American Heart Association (AHA).
IMET2000 Organised Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Training Workshop at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre
IMET2000-Pal held a workshop covering advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation attended by 6 doctors and nurses from different hospitals. It was titled:
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Course for Physicians and Nurses
The workshop aims to educate participants on various topics: recognize and manage respiratory and cardiac arrest and peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia, discuss and demonstrate airway management, stroke management, and related pharmacology. It also focuses on effective communication and leadership skills that are crucial within an ACLS team. The workshop was directed by a reliable instructor from the American Heart Association. The training involved the use of medical dolls which helped educate the trainees on how to perform advanced cardiac resuscitation on patients that needed immediate aid and allowed them to practice it. This was alongside an educational and practical explanation provided by the instructor. At the end of the second day, the trainees were assessed to measure their ability to deal with such cases.
IMET2000 Renews it’s Support for Children with Special Needs from the Early Intervention Charitable Society
IMET2000 supports the Early Intervention Charitable Society (EICS) in Beit Awar, Ramallah for the third consecutive year to cover the treatment expenses of another 20 Palestinian children for 2023 to help EICS with their mission of looking after kids with learning disabilities and mental disorders. EICS is a charity that provides rehabilitation services for children with disabilities from 18 villages in the Ramallah district; mostly from poor families who cannot pay for their kids’ treatment. Their services include early detection of disabilities, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, all essential for integrating this disadvantaged group of children into society. Our CEO stated that IMET2000 is very keen to support the efforts of EICS to deliver its current objectives and become a sustainable service.
We hope to continue working with EICS and other similar charities such as Jasmine and Al Riyad to provide access to as many kids with physical and mental disabilities as we can regardless of their financial status.
IMET2000 Organised Two Basic Life Support Training Workshops
April, 2023
IMET2000 in cooperation with the Arab American University (AAUP) and An-Najah National University (NNU) organised Two training workshops attended by 18 doctors, nurses and interns from governmental and private hospitals on:
Critical Core Training: Basic Life Support (BLS) training for Healthcare Professionals
The workshops took place at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre at Ramallah and An-Najah Life Support Centre. This training aimed to provide instructions and practical sessions about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for healthcare professionals, Automated External Defibrillation (AED) and First Aid. They were led by certified instructors from American Heart Association(AHA).
IMET2000 Organised a First Aid Workshop for Therapy Specialists at Jasmine Society
April 29, 2023
IMET2000 organised a First Aid training workshop in collaboration with the Jasmine Charitable Society in Ramallah. The aim of this workshop was to enhance the knowledge of therapeutic specialists on administering first aid to children in emergency and critical situations. The workshop was led by Dr Motaz Draghma, the Medical Education Officer at IMET2000-Pal, and covered several aspects, including raising awareness about medical emergencies that children may experience, how to handle choking incidents, first aid for fainting and bleeding, and steps for cardiac resuscitation.
These workshops fall under the framework of life-saving training provided by IMET2000, which targets a group of children in urgent need of increasing the expertise of medical crews and educating them about critical situations that may lead to complications. The director of the Jasmine Charitable Society, Mrs Wafa Al Shaikh, thanked IMET2000 for their dedicated and continuous support in increasing community health awareness. She is looking forward to more educational workshops that have a significant impact on increasing health knowledge and awareness in the community.
IMET2000 Granted Mr Fadi Esleem from Gaza the chance to Complete his PhD in Nursing
MET2000 sponsored Mr Fadi Esleem with a travel bursary to complete his PhD in the Faculty of Nursing at the International Islamic University Malaysia.
This is what Mr Fadi had to say:
Dear respected in IMET2000
I am writing to you to thank you for all the support that you have given me during my travels to Malaysia. You have shown a high level of support and encouragement towards me. Therefore, I was able to travel and complete my university studies at International Islamic University Malaysia and benefit in the best possible way.
This grant came to relieve me of the burden of travelling costs and focus more on my studying.
Travelling was only possible with the unlimited emotional and financial support of IMET2000.
I will not forget what you did for me, thank you very much, wishing you all the best,
Sincerely,
Fadi Esleem
The Earthquake and Our ‘Firefly in Syria’ Project
April 18, 2023
The recent disastrous earthquake in Turkey and Syria has severely impacted our ‘Firefly in Syria’ project which we run as junior partner of the UK charity Firefly International. The Director Mrs Fadia Shaker and her family lived in Antakya at the epicentre of the quake and she miraculously survived together with her family. Alas, our whole project in Turkey has to be re-built from scratch. The schools in Syria were less affected and can be salvaged quite quickly. Fadia has sent the report attached. IMET2000 will now be raising funds urgently to pay for essential staff salaries and teaching materials.
IMET2000 Organised Three Basic Life Support Training Workshops
March, 2023
IMET2000-Pal in cooperation with the Palestinian Medical Student’s Association (PMSA) and the Arab American University (AAUP) organised three training workshops attended by 26 doctors, nurses and interns from governmental and private hospitals on:
Critical Core Training: Basic Life Support (BLS) training for Healthcare Professionals
The workshops took place at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre at Ramallah. These trainings aimed to provide instructions and practical sessions about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for healthcare professionals, Automated External Defibrillation (AED) and First Aid. They were led by certified instructors from American Heart Association(AHA).
Another Successful ATLS Course at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre
We have organised our 8th ATLS training course in Ramallah. Our Palestinian ATLS instructors (Dr Aseel Al Tell, Dr Mamoun Mansour, Dr Amer AbuRumaila, Dr Mohammed Bakeer and Dr Mohammad Al Mohtaseb) delivered this and opened by our ATLS director Dr Fahmi Jubran and coordinator Mr Fadi Zaben.
This particular course remarks a collaboration with the Department of Emergency Services at the Ministry of Health- Dr Qawasmeh paid the centre a visit and thanked IMET2000 for their support. In this course, 15 doctors from Governmental and Non-Governmental hospitals all over the West Bank were trained as per the ATLS curriculum.
This course is well-recognized for training healthcare staff to effectively coordinate and manage trauma cases.
Dr Malik Zaben, IMET2000 CEO said “We aim to continue working with other Palestinian stakeholders to deliver more ATLS courses until we get as many surgeons as possible trained in this vital field. We want to expand this course to involve ATLS for nurses and medical students and hopefully to other areas in Palestine.”
IMET2000-Pal Conducted the First Volume of Soft Skills Developmental Programme for Healthcare Professionals
March,2023
IMET2000 has organised soft skills programme which consisted of three sessions held on March 8th, 15th, and 22nd. Dr Malik Zaben, CEO of IMET2000 and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Arab American University, led this programme. The aim of the programme was to equip students and graduates of healthcare disciplines with essential soft skills necessary for a job competition.
The first session was titled “Leadership and Communication Skills for the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals”. The second session, named “CV Writing for Healthcare Professionals” aimed to teach participants how to create an exceptional resume. While the third session, “Interview Skills for Healthcare Professionals,” aimed to improve participants’ job interview performance.
The Soft Skills Developmental Programme for Healthcare Professionals is a significant initiative designed by IMET2000-Pal to improve healthcare by enhancing healthcare professionals’ communication, leadership, collaboration, creative problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. By doing so, the programme ultimately contributes to the development of healthcare.
IMET2000-Pal seeks to achieve its vision of improving healthcare by developing the skills of professionals in the healthcare sector through this programme.
Latest News from Gaza Child Mental Health Centre
March 27,2023
The Director of the Child Mental Health Centre in Gaza, Mohammed El Sharef has just sent the latest news which is encouraging to say the least. The Centre is now fully licenced and registered with the Minister of the Interior and Minister of Education and has opened its own dedicated bank account. Together with Firefly International, IMET2000 is budgeting near £60,000 a year to improve and upgrade this Centre and of course, as the needs in war-torn Gaza build up with children presenting in ever increasing numbers with repetitive traumatic stress disorder, depression and extreme anxiety, we hope we can increase this financial support for additional staff and numbers of patients treated. Mohammed’s detailed report on the first open Day of 2023 gives an idea of the importance of their work both in large groups as here and private one-one treatment of individual children.
Click below for the report :
Report on the first open day in 2023
IMET2000 Organised Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Training Workshop at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre
March 14,2023
IMET2000-Pal held a workshop covering advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation attended by 7 doctors and nurses from different hospitals.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Training for Doctors and Nurses
The workshop was opened by miss Marah Qatouni who welcomed the attendees and outlined different events organised by IMET2000. The workshop was directed by Mr Ahmad Houdrob and Mr Akram Shahrour reliable instructors from the American Heart Association. The training involved the use of medical dolls which helped educate the trainees on how to perform advanced cardiac resuscitation on patients that needed immediate aid and allowed them to practice it. This was alongside a scientific and practical explanation provided by the instructors. At the end of the second day, the trainees were assessed to measure their ability to deal with such cases.
IMET2000 Organised Two Basic Life Support Training Workshops in February
IMET2000-Pal in cooperation with the Palestinian National Nursing and Midwifery Association (PNNMA) and the Arab American University (AAUP) organised two training workshops attended by 17 doctors and nurses from governmental and private hospitals on:
Critical Core Training: Basic Life Support (BLS) training for Healthcare Professionals
The workshops took place at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre at Ramallah. These trainings aimed to provide instructions and practical sessions about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for healthcare professionals, Automated External Defibrillation (AED) and First Aid. They were led by certified instructors from American Heart Association(AHA).
IMET2000 Organised Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Training Workshop at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre
February 19-20, 2023
IMET2000-Pal held a workshop covering advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation attended by 6 doctors and nurses from different hospitals. It was titled:
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Training for Doctors
The workshop was opened by Dr Fajr Sarhan who welcomed the attendees and outlined different events organised by IMET2000. The workshop was directed by Dr Farid Abu Liel a reliable instructor from the American Heart Association. The training involved the use of medical dolls which helped educate the trainees on how to perform advanced cardiac resuscitation on patients that needed immediate aid and allowed them to practice it. This was alongside a scientific and practical explanation provided by the instructors. At the end of the second day, the trainees were assessed to measure their ability to deal with such cases.
Firefly in Syria December Report and the Earthquake Tragedy
February 9, 2023
This encouraging report from our partners in the Syrian refugee camps either side of the border with Turkey arrived a few days before the tragic earthquake claimed so many lives in Antakya where the ‘Firefly in Syria’ children’s education programme was based and of course other cities in Turkey nearer the earthquake epicentre. Of immediate concern to all of us was that our wonderful Director Mrs Fadia Shaker and her own children and family might have perished in the collapsing buildings. To our great relief, Fadia and her family got out in time and, in spite of poor communication, was able to let us know she had survived. Our next concern was and still is the safety of the hundreds of children in the programme’s care as well as the excellent staff who run that programme. It is too early to know the outcome but we hope that at least those in our Syrian villages and refugee camps will be safe as they live in low-rise houses or tents. Sadly, we think that one of our staff is missing.
The whole Firefly programme , classrooms and equipment now have to be started all over again and IMET2000 must partner Firefly International in their efforts. Without interfering with their own emergency fundraising campaign, we are duty bound to raise additional funds from IMET2000 supporters.
Firefly for Syrians- December 2022 Report
IMET2000 Held Essential First-Aid Skills for Mums and Care Givers of Children with Disabilities
February 6, 2023
IMET2000-Pal organised a training workshop in cooperation with the Riyadh Association for the Care of Children with Disabilities, to raise awareness among mothers on First Aid for children.
The workshop was conducted by Dr Motaz Darghama, the Medical Education Officer at IMET2000-Pal, and covered several aspects, including emergency health awareness, handling choking incidents, first aid for fainting and bleeding and cardiac resuscitation for children.
This workshop is part of the IMET2000 plan to increase health awareness in the Palestinian community.
More Good News From Gaza Child Mental Health Centre
February 4, 2023
Our Child Mental Health Centre in Gaza is increasingly recognised for the highly professional standards and successes in treating children with severe Repetitive Traumatic Stress Disorder. In Gaza, the children are subjected to daily interruption of their schooling and life because of military assaults and loss of family and relatives. The usual term PTSD is simply not descriptive of their mental health problems. The team led by Mohammed El Sharif in the Centre are achieving excellent results at very low cost. In the link below, two children who have been successfully treated by our team wanted to say a few words about their experience.
The team in Gaza can be proud of their great work with children and the high professional quality of the psychologists and psychiatrist. The word is spreading and new numbers have come to the Centre because they have heard about the programme, about the outcomes of the sessions and the improvement in so many children.
Please click on the link to see the video.
Our CEO, Dr Malik Zaben, was awarded the Medal of Independence by “The President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas in recognition of his work in Medical Education in Palestine
IMET2000 Organised Three Basic Life Support Training Workshops
January 30,2023
IMET2000-Pal in cooperation with Arab American University (AAUP) organised three training workshops on:
Critical Core Training: Basic Life Support (BLS) training for Healthcare Professionals
The participants were from Riyadh Charity for Children with Disabilities and from governmental and private hospitals at IMET2000-Pal Training Centre-Ramallah and Salfit municipality. The workshops were attended by more than 25 doctors, nurses and occupational therapists. The workshops aim to provide instructions and practical sessions about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for healthcare professionals, Automated External Defibrillation (AED) and First Aid. They were led by certified instructors from American Heart Association(AHA).
IMET2000 Organised Paediatrics Advanced Life Support Training Workshop at An-Najah Training Centre
January 22nd&23rd 2023,
IMET2000-Pal in cooperation with An-Najah National University organised a workshop titled:
Paediatrics Advanced Life Support (PALS) Provider Training for Doctors
This workshop was attended by 6 Participants from different governmental and private hospitals at An-Najah Training Centre-Nablus. This workshop aims to discuss the important issues regarding PALS, focusing on the updates of American PALS, 2020, the practice of the pediatric systematic approach, the practice of high-quality CPR (Basic Life Support) for children, giving respiratory and cardiac emergencies and early interventions. Finally, shows Multi-rescuer resuscitation and team dynamics.
It was led by our Representative in Palestine, Mr Fady Zaben a certified instructor by the American Heart Association.
IMET2000-Pal Welcomed A visit by Dundee University
January 14,2023
Dr Malik Zaben welcomed at the IMET2000-Pal training centre Dr David Russell, The Director of Medical School Business Development and Partnerships and a Member of Dundee University Delegate Visiting Palestine.
During his visit, Dr Malik introduced him to the training centre of IMET, where Dr Russell expressed his admiration for the trainings and the role that IMET2000-Pal offers to provide various training programs and clinical and research workshops aiming to develop health education in Palestine. He also expressed his interest in strengthening mutual relations with international institutions and expanding the horizons of cooperation with foreign universities to exchange medical expertise at the international level for the benefit of the medical staff in Palestine.
IMET2000 Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Palestinian National Nursing and Midwifery Association (PNNMA)
January 12,2023
This agreement comes within the framework of supporting and implementing joint programs helping nurses to develop their educational and clinical skills in various training programs and workshops; thus providing training opportunities for nurses. Both parties met, shared their visions, and signed the MoU at IMET2000-Pal Ramallah centre.
IMET2000-Pal was represented by the CEO, Dr Malik Zaben and the IMET2000-Pal staff, PNNMA was represented by the president of the association Mr. Ibrahim Al Namoura, and the members of the Association.
The agreement focused on strategies for future cooperation between IMET2000 and PNNMA within several common aspects that intersect between the vision of both parties, including developing their nursing knowledge, research and practical clinical skills, and enhancing prospects for cooperation with the PNNMA in various trainings and workshops provided by IMET2000.
IMET2000 Supported Dr Wafa Aqel to Participate in the 12th Annual Meeting of the Middle Eastern Association for Cancer Research-Morocco
January 10,2023
IMET2000 sponsored Dr Wafa Aqel with a travel bursary to attend the 12th Annual Meeting of the Middle Eastern Association for Cancer Research in Morocco to present her abstract about:
“Awareness of Palestinians about lung cancer symptoms: a national cross-sectional study”
This is what Dr Wafa had to say: “I’m pleased to write this letter to say thank you for the financial support that you extended to me to attend the 12th annual meeting of the Middle-Eastern Association for Cancer Research MEACR/Qatar, in collaboration with Société Marocaine de Cancérologie/Morocco. The MEACR was established as a nonprofit organization in 2009 and aims to enhance the exchange between clinicians, cancer scientists, graduate students and other health workers who deal with cancer patients in the larger Middle East (ME) including North Africa. As a Palestinian Medical Doctor and Researcher, I was grateful to attend the conference and to be one of the speakers, where I presented an Oral presentation entitled: Awareness of Palestinians about lung cancer symptoms: Current Situation and Future Directions. In discussion with a large group of researchers and scientists from all over the world. It was a great opportunity and an honour for me to participate in it as the youngest researcher among them. Finally, I would like to thank you again for your funding, which helped me to participate in this conference”.