QU Health (the Health and Medical Sciences sector) at Qatar University (QU) organized a profound campaign of support and solidarity for the resilient health professionals in Gaza. This initiative of solidarity aims to honor the tireless efforts and sacrifices made by the health professionals in Gaza to treat the patients. The solidarity event, a collaborative effort involving deans, directors, professors, and students within QU Health, aimed to acknowledge the unwavering commitment of Gaza's healthcare personnel.

In a moving opening speech, Ms. Jawaher Barka, President of the Interprofessional Education Student Association, encapsulated the essence of the campaign, stating, “We gather here today not casually, but in the presence of exposed wounds filled with blood mixed with pain and the flesh of suffering. Today, we stand in reverence and honor for those who have dedicated their lives to treating the ill and injured, alleviating their pain, and healing their fractures. Who are these individuals? They selflessly give to others, but who supports them? They aid the wounded, but who aids them? To you, the healthy ones, who tirelessly give, we acknowledge your tremendous efforts and dedication, appreciating your daily sacrifices. To these heroes, the healthcare team, who orchestrate the symphony of healing, we extend our deepest thanks and gratitude. You have restored humanity to its essence; you are the hope and strength in these challenging times, and therefore, we thank you wholeheartedly for your dedication and inspiration.”

Dr. Mohamed El-Rayess, QU Health Director of Basic Research at the Vice President Office for Health and Medical Sciences, said in his speech, “Today, we gather with heavy hearts mourning the ongoing tragedy unfolding in Gaza. The destruction witnessed during the war has left a permanent scar on the world's conscience. Lives have been lost, dreams shattered, and a future destroyed—a toll that words cannot fully express. This aggression targeted hospitals, a deliberate act aimed at undermining the healthcare system and eradicating the remaining beacons of life for the people of Gaza. For over 50 days, Gaza's hospitals stood resilient against these attempts, managed by heroes who sacrificed their homes and families to fulfill their duties towards their people.”

He added, “As the aggression continues, hospital facilities are no longer able to accommodate the influx of injured patients. Surgeries must be performed on hospital floors and corridors without basic medical supplies. Testimonies of surgeons shedding tears alongside their patients while performing operations without anesthesia circulated on social media. With the collapse of the healthcare system, the challenge intensifies to provide continuous treatment for the patients, necessitating prioritization for those severely injured due to scarce resources.”

Dr. El-Rayess highlighted that this solidarity campaign aims to honor the healthcare heroes in Gaza who have not abandoned their duties, standing in support of their courage and dedication. Addressing the healthcare workers in Gaza, he said, “Your unwavering dedication inspires us all. Rest assured, you can rely on our support because you embody resilience, compassion, and hope in the face of adversity.”

In a message honoring one of the health professionals in Gaza, the martyr Dr. Hamam Al-Louh, a nephrologist at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, carried by Mohammed Al-Hour, a student at QU's College of Medicine, the message said, “Fourteen years ago, I left my war-torn homeland in search of knowledge across continents and pursued my residency in nephrology. However, the painful cries of my people called me back. I returned, armed not only with knowledge but also with a strong determination to heal the wounds inflicted upon my homeland. The corridors of Al-Shifa Hospital whisper tales of resilience and despair, and within their echoes, I find my purpose: to be a beacon of hope amidst the shadows of war crimes. This was always what I aspired to do: progress in my specialty field, learn more, and teach more. Yet, in Gaza, I could not do that. Moreover, what is happening in recent days is not new; this has been our life for us.”

He added, “Our duty as health professionals extends beyond the borders of our clinics; it requires us to ensure the well-being of every soul trapped in the network of this genocide. And because of this duty, among 200 health professionals deliberately targeted by the airstrikes of occupation on 21 November 2023, I too became a martyr, a victim of the genocide that also targeted those who swore to heal and protect.”

Speaking about her martyr friend, Hanin Metwali, a student at QU's College of Pharmacy, said, “A year ago, on a day like this, we were sitting, exchanging conversations, and dreaming about our futures upon graduation. Our dreams were hopes without limits or boundaries. Our conversations never ended, and happiness and joy were merely seeing each other as if it were an eternal moment that never ended. All those dreams, hopes, conversations, happiness, and joy between us were assassinated and killed. Along with them, more than twenty thousand conversations, happiness, joy, and hopes were killed as well.”

She added, “Therefore, it's imperative for me and many others to stand in the face of this situation as a wake-up call for us and a memory for them. Today, I stand here mourning my lifelong friend and companion on the path, a dental student who dreamed of her graduation day to give candies to children after treating them. Today, I mourn my friend in her twenties with a warm smile, and we pray that God accepts you among the martyrs.”

It is worth noting that many students from QU Health and beyond participated in narrating stories of war victims among the health professionals in Gaza, which enriched Gaza's poetry. Additionally, donations for Gaza were collected during the campaign, and a video featuring messages from some health professionals in Gaza was showcased.