Reading the latest Ngo report on Gaza provides a grimacing read. Excerpts quoted below are from 'Dashed Hopes - Continuation of Gaza Blockade' - an informative read.
The full report can be downloaded by clicking this link and scrolling to the bottom of this page > mistngo.org/palestine

'Dashed Hopes' recalibrates the picture in Gaza since statements made by the Israeli Security Cabinet - Meeting, 20 June 2010: Israeli Security Cabinet Statement 20 June

"Israel has imposed a general ban on the passage of people from Gaza to the West Bank, including students, since 2000. Israel is only permitting the exit of students with scholarships at universities in selected ‘friendly’ countries, but not students enrolled at universities without scholarships or in other countries. Since the ‘easing’ and as the new academic year began, no change to that policy has been observed."
MiST have worked determinedly to establish high quality medical education IN the Gaza region. Securing our first educational base at the European Gaza Hospital to teach quality assured diplomas in partnership with Edge Hill University, Manchester, UK.
By concentrating the development of local infrastructures and investing in the education of local people, MiST hope to bypass much of the political wrangling that occurs when exporting students and patients.

"Despite the Israeli authorities’ commitment in the 20 June announcement to streamline entry and exit permits to and from Gaza for medical and humanitarian reasons and for aid workers, there has been so far no tangible improvement in practice. On the contrary, there has been a decrease in the rate of permit approvals for entry or exit of UN agencies’ national humanitarian staff. Permit policy for aid workers and medical patients remains arbitrary, unpredictable and time consuming."
MiST regularly send expert medics from around the world to Palestinian territories, sometimes encountering problems securing entry for medics without traditional UK names. Entry to Gaza is never straight forward. Although this report does highlight some improvements in passage for some...

"The sole significant positive change in the area of freedom of movement has been an approximately fourfold increase in the numbers of businesspeople allowed to leave and enter Gaza via the Erez crossing."

MiST are working to improve surgical and medical standards in Palestine through provision of expert treatment and medical education. Along the way MiST are contributing to easing passage restrictions for humanitarian aid workers and providing/developing quality healthcare so travel for locals is not required.

There are limited opportunities to comfort ourselves with 'success' in the Palestinian region of Gaza, but this report is a reminder of how MiST are productively shaping infrastructural assets for the future where resources are decaying and finite.

MiST Patron, Baroness Jenny Tonge speaks on behalf of Mobile International Surgical Teams.
MiST held the recruitment and fundraising event recently at The Marriott Hotel in Worsley, Manchester. The event highlighted the medical and health needs of Pakistan post-flood.

A big thank you to everyone who supported this event and contributed to making it a big success.
We calculated pledges for medical equipment amounted to over £20,000 and we also raised about £2400+ in cash (shared with Aster Asir of Shepherds Home Trust).

Report From MiST Director - Professor Sohail Khan.

Sohail is lead surgeon for the MiST Education Programme in Palestine.

Professor Sohail Khan and his newest lacrosse team."Following a busy 6-day week working training the local surgeons in Gaza, it was a pleasant change to go on the beach on a Friday. When I first went to the beach, I saw many children playing but nothing organized for them to do. So one Friday I turned up with my lacrosse sticks and started to play with the Gazan kids ...they were superb."

"The majority of them took to lacrosse like ducks to water and soon there were many kids wanting to have a go!"

A Lacrosse Enthusiast

Sohail has recently returned from Palestine but planning his medical and sporting comeback!

"I thoroughly enjoyed my Fridays, which were spent on the beach with these fantastic kids. When I return to Gaza in September, I intend to continue this beach experience with the Gazans…..the next convoy due in Gaza from UK is going to bring another 20 lacrosse sticks so I can start a proper lacrosse school and maybe one day we can have a Palestine team playing in the World Championships!"

To donate to MiST click here > Donate

One of the technologies MiST employ is the Ilizarov frame used to treat complex bone fractures.

The Ilizarov fixator is an external limb device system consisting of a series of rings and wires, which is used as part of limb reconstructive and limb lengthening surgery.

The frame and wires cost approximately £4000, however MiST source many donated frames suitable for second use and beyond.
Our medics donate their time and we source funding for additional costs - therefore MiST are able to offer high cost, highly skilled and high tech surgery to some of the poorest people in the world.

A key feature of all MiST projects is the education of medics abroad. MiST are able to engage experts from many countries via multi-disciplinary teaching methods.

Below is a short animation showing how the frame works over time.

Ilizarov Frame
source: MARTIN L., FARRELL M., LAMBRENOS K. & NAYAGAM D. (2003) Journal of
Advanced Nursing 43(5), 478–487
Living with the Ilizarov frame: adolescent perceptions

"During reconstructive surgery an osteotomy is performed, and this creates a small break in the bone which is required to provide a space potential for the promotion of bone growth.
The Ilizarov frame is then built around the affected limb. The first stage of frame construction involves inserting a series of thin tension wires, called Kirchner wires, through the bone to be lengthened. The blood and nerve supplies to the soft tissue are not compromised because of the small diameter of the
wires (Nance & Mardjetko 1994).
These wires are then attached to two or more metal rings placed around the limb, and these rings are then connected to telescopic rods. These rods enable the length of the whole frame to be extended."

"Following application of the frame, the patient requires a short period of bedrest to allow for resolution of surgical responses before the process of limb lengthening/correction is started. Approximately 7 days after application the telescopic rods are lengthened by turning a series of nuts, a process known as distraction. Through distraction the two ends of bone are pulled a short distance apart. This creates a small gap, which then stimulates bone growth to occupy the space created (osteogenesis)."

"Typically, the amount of distraction exerted is 1 mm/day. The Ilizarov frame remains in position for approximately 4–12 months, the time being determined by the total amount of limb lengthening or correction required. The Ilizarov technique can be used successfully to stimulate limb lengthening
by as much as 5 cm."