Lifesaving dialysis resumes after 15 months in Gaza

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In the war-torn region of Gaza, 11-year-old Nasim Mahra fights for survival as he undergoes dialysis treatment. Nasim, who suffered kidney failure three years ago, requires dialysis three times a week. However, due to the destruction of hospitals in Israeli airstrikes, he has missed several crucial sessions. His mother, Nad Mahra, has been desperately searching for facilities to treat her son while their family endures repeated displacement.

“As hospitals went out of operation, we were forced to run from one area to another, hoping to find a facility offering dialysis,” Nad said. Her husband carried their son throughout their search until he was detained by the Israeli military, leaving Nasim stranded. Fortunately, kind strangers returned him to his mother.

The Rantisi Hospital, the only facility offering pediatric dialysis in Gaza, has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict. Previously equipped with 14 dialysis machines, it now functions with only six. Its capacity has dropped dramatically, now serving just 13 patients—less than a third of what it once could accommodate. The Israeli military’s attacks have forced many child patients to flee south, seeking care at Al-Aqsa Hospital. Sessions have been cut from three to two per week, and their duration shortened, leading to fatal consequences for many children.

Dialysis is essential for removing excess fluids and toxins from the blood when kidneys fail. Patients need clean water and a balanced diet, yet the war has made these necessities unattainable for many displaced families. Power outages have crippled water desalination plants, leaving vulnerable patients at risk of infections from contaminated water.

Even before the war, obtaining dialysis in Gaza was a challenge. Now, with the healthcare system collapsing, hundreds of children who rely on regular treatment are struggling to survive in dire conditions.

News source- Al Jazeera