On Tuesday 18 February 2014 the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association (IFMSA) organised a workshop to discuss “Thalassaemia: A Reality in Palestine”; looking at diagnosis, comprehensive follow-up and psychological dimensions, under the auspices of the Thalassaemia Patients’ Friends Society (TPFS) within the Faculty of Medicine, An-Najah University.

The Secretary General of the TPFS Mrs. Jihad Abu Ghosh and Head of the International Medical Students Union Dr. Rasha Al-Khayatt opened the workshop and highlighted the crucial objectives of dealing with cases of Thalassaemia: diagnosis; comprehensive follow-up; and psychological examination, in addition to the importance of community awareness.

Dr. Al-Khayatt highlighted the importance of holding these workshops and their positive role in raising awareness, in order to develop therapeutic health settings for Thalassaemia in Palestine. She also expressed her thanks and appreciation to the TPFS-Palestine and supervising institutions and societies.

This initiative is part of the “Palestine free of Thalassaemia New Births” project, which through community-based outreach and education, in cooperation with a representative student of IFMSA, Zeyad Abu Hilweh, (Official of Students’ Exchange Programme in Palestine), medical students takes responsibility for educating the community on Thalassaemia disease.

He also added that this workshop is the first step, where An-Najah medical students will further undertake field visits to Jerusalem and northern governorates within schools’ programme on education and awareness.

Dr. Abdulnaser Daraghmeh, Director of Amal Centre for northern governorates, gave an overview on the reality of Thalassaemia in Palestine, and Mr Mahmoud Daraghmeh, Laboratory Technician Specialist, spoke about pre-natal checks and the genetic make-up of the disease. In addition, Prof. Jawad Fatayer, Vice President for Graduate Affairs, discussed the role of communication skills in educating and treating the disease.

Mrs. Abu Ghosh expanded on this point to talk about the role of advocacy and support campaigns in impacting the policies of public and third sectors. Furthermore, Mrs. Mona Abu Shamatt, a psychology specialist, addressed the need for a combined approach and also addressed the psychological and social support needed by Thalassaemia patients and carers.

1. Support for the project was provided by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development-Kuwait through the Islamic Development Bank (IDB)-Jeddah and the management of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction (PECDAR).
2. 60 students from the Medicine Faculty and IFMSA participated in the workshop, welcoming the health workshops and recommending:
3. Coordinating on organising field visits to the public and private schools in Jerusalem and the northern governorates for the medical students to lecture on education and awareness on Thalassaemia aimed at young people, In addition to holding poster campaigns aimed at the public asking for blood donations for Thalassaemia patients.