GAZA: Two Gaza orthopaedic surgeons, having treated thousands of people with broken limbs since 2019, are now applying their skills to saving animals in a community where veterinary services focus on more basic interventions.
Many of brothers Mohammad and Youssef Al-Khaldi's human patients have been victims of Israeli army gunfire at border protests, they say.
Their new charges, which they are treating in addition to people following a surge in inquiries from the owners of pets and livestock, generally came by their injuries in more prosaic circumstances. But for animals, they can often prove fatal.
"I turned to this out of compassion," said Mohammad, noting that around 80% of animals with untreated fractures die, after he and Youssef tended to a sheep's broken leg at their clinic in southern Rafah.
They have also mended bones on cats, dogs and even birds - including falcons - and usually invite a veterinarian to oversee the final stage of setting or prosthetic fitting.
Among recent satisfied customers was 28-year-old Anan Al-Bayoumi, whose cat received a cast for a broken paw.
"I raise animals and (up to now).. there had been no institutions to do the casts," he said. "(But the brothers) ... made it easy for us and they treated the cat."
Due to poverty and the difficulty in importing goods across the Israeli- and Egyptian-controlled borders, the bothers often have to improvise casts or prosthetics for their animal patients from polyethylene and similar compounds.
"The (normal) materials are not currently available, so we use alternatives. It's hard to tell someone a cast would cost $100. The casts we make cost 10 shekels or $3, and most of the time the service is free," Mohammad said.
Reuters
Wed May 18 2022
Orthopedists Mohammad and Youssef Al-Khaldi treat a sheep with bone fracture, in Rafah in southern Gaza Strip. - REUTERS
[TERKINI] Keir Starmer dijangka menang majoriti besar
Keir Starmer akan menjadi Perdana Menteri Britain seterusnya Parti Buruh dipimpin beliau dijangka memenangi dengan majoriti besar dalam pilihan raya Parlimen.
Pilihan raya UK: Keir Starmer bakal dilantik sebagai PM hari ini?
Keir Starmer akan menjadi Perdana Menteri UK yang baharu hari ini selepas Raja Charles III secara rasmi menjemput untuk membentuk kerajaan.
PRK Nenggiri: Pemuda UMNO taruh harapan orang muda bertanding
Dr Akmal berkata, orang muda lebih mudah mendekati pengundi dalam menyampaikan maklumat, mempunyai tenaga dan idea untuk bangunkan kawasan.
Biden rancang lebih banyak tidur, tiada lagi acara selepas 8 malam
Presiden Joe Biden beritahu Demokrat beliau perlukan lebih banyak tidur dan rancang untuk tidak hadir mana-mana acara selepas 8 malam.
Pilihan raya UK: Parti Buruh diunjur menang besar
Tinjauan pendapat ketika ini mengunjurkan Parti Buruh meraih 410 kerusi diikuti Konservatif 131, Liberal Demokrat (61) dan Reform UK (13).
PRK Sungai Bakap: Fadhlina tulis warkah, rayu undi calon PH
Orang sebaik dan cerdik seperti Joohari wajar mendapat tempat untuk menjadi pemimpin di Pulau Pinang, kata Fadhlina.
Pas gesa pemantau SPR turunkan papan iklan PH di Sungai Bakap - Tuan Ibrahim
Tuan Ibrahim berkata, papan iklan yang dibentangkan PH didakwa menunjukkan maksud ayat dalam bahasa Cina tidak sama dengan bahasa Melayu.
PM Anwar lawat Rozaid di Hospital Serdang
Anwar mendoakan agar Rozaid diberi kesembuhan sesegera mungkin.
KPM komited teruskan pembinaan SJKT Sungai Bakap
Projek itu dalam proses untuk diangkat semula termasuk mengemas kini kertas-kertas dokumentasi di peringkat Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri.
AUG 2024: Kem olahraga capai sasaran 10 pingat emas
Azeem Fahmi sekali lagi cemerlang mengungguli acara 200 meter dengan catatan masa 21.15 saat.