Dr Ali Sabateen, who is head of infectious diseases unit and of the Coronavirus Center, comforts a patient at Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem. Photo: LWF/AVH/Ezdihar Shaheen
Augusta Victoria Hospital staff serves to protect patients
(LWI) - Every day, the staff of Augusta Victoria Hospital on the campus of the Lutheran World Federation – Jerusalem, works around restrictions in movement and access to people who need lifesaving treatments. This year, the global COVID-19 pandemic has made humanitarian work even more difficult. A few of the medical personnel at AVH share their passion for the work amid the many challenges.
All photos: LWF/AVH/Ezdihar Shaheen
I love Augusta Victoria Hospital, and I love and adore my profession. I must endure all circumstances surrounding me to continue providing my service, and I will take all the necessary sacrifices in order to save our patients.
It has been challenging to convince patients of the new measures such as measuring temperature at the entrance of the hospital and before being moved from one ward to another.
I chose medicine for times such as these. I am willing to put myself at risk for the sake of treating patients. During the pandemic, I do not treat my patients like strangers, but rather, as daughters, sons, mothers, and brothers. We continue our work during this pandemic with sincerity and passion.
I love the humanitarian aspect of my work, dealing with emotions, and pain.
I continue working throughout the pandemic because I feel the threat of the virus spreading amongst my nation, especially in East Jerusalem and in light of the occupation, and the vulnerable health system in general.
We are at a crossroads. We must protect our dialysis and cancer patients from the spread of the virus between them and at the same time protect their companions and our medical staff in order to continue providing services without putting our patients at risk.
Augusta Victoria Hospital is a center of medical excellence in East Jerusalem, serving all 5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. It offers specialized care not available in other hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza, including radiation therapy for cancer patients and pediatric hemodialysis. Augusta Victoria Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission International for its outstanding quality. Patients are referred to the AVH by the Palestinian Authority.
