Category: Medical & Health

At least two patients died as Al-Shifa Hospital went out of service on Saturday due to Israel bombing everything moving inside the complex, health officials in Gaza said.

"The intensive care department of the hospital was also targeted," the director of Al-Shifa Hospital said in a statement.

'The occupation (forces) bombed the surgery building inside the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City,' the Interior Ministry said in a separate statement.

The Israeli artillery and air bombardment in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital and Gaza neighborhoods has not stopped for six hours, according to the Palestine TV channel.

On Friday evening, Israeli aircraft intensified their attacks against hospitals in the Gaza Strip. They continued their raids in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa Hospital, Indonesian Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, Al-Quds Hospital and Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip - including hospitals, residences, and houses of worship - since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The 5th round of the 'Drop of Slovak Blood', a blood donation organised by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Nicosia, was announced here today. According to a Slovak Embassy's press release, the event, supported by Health Minister of the Republic, will take place at the Blood Donation Station of Engomi Health Centre in Nicosia on 7 November 2023 at 10:00 a.m with the participation of the Ambassador, 4 Embassy staff members and 63 peacekeepers from Slovakia. As noted, this voluntary blood donation initiative started back in June 2022 upon the initiative of the Ambassador of Slovakia. Since then, it became a regular event with a significant participation of the Slovak Embassy and Slovak contingent in the UNFICYP (SLOVCON) as over 150 donors have donated approximately 70 litres of blood.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The number of people killed due to a fire at a coal mine in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region has risen to 42, authorities said on Sunday. 'As of 15:00 (0900GMT), the bodies of 42 dead were found, and the search for 4 miners continues,' the Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement, adding that a search and rescue operation was still underway. Late Friday, a fire broke out at the Kostenko coal mine operated by ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturing corporation, where some 252 workers were present. Following the incident, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered the government to end cooperation with the group, and declared Oct. 29 as a day of national mourning.

Source: EN - Anadolu Agency

The report from the Palestine Red Crescent Society on the evacuation threats to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza is 'deeply concerning,' the WHO chief said on Sunday. 'We reiterate - it's impossible to evacuate hospitals full of patients without endangering their lives,' Tedros Ghebreyesus said on X. He added that healthcare must always be protected under International Humanitarian Law. Earlier, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said Israel threatened to bomb the medical facility in Gaza and demanded an "immediate evacuation." We received "serious threats from the occupation authorities to immediately evacuate Al-Quds Hospital in the Gaza Strip, as it is going to be bombarded," the humanitarian organization said on X. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) also voiced concern regarding the matter, urging de-escalation. "I am deeply alarmed to hear that Palestine Red Crescent Society teams at the Al-Quds Hospital have again this morning been told to immediately evacuate," IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain said on X. "I cannot stress this further," he said and added: "There is an urgent need to de-escalate to protect civilian lives, hospitals and doctors." Israel claims Hamas operates beneath hospitals and other civilian structures, and that 'in order to dismantle Hamas, we must dismantle their underground tunnels.' Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group carried out a cross-border attack, killing 1,400 people, and taking many hostages. The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza has risen to 8,005, including 3,342 children, 2,062 women, and 460 elderly, according to the Health Ministry. The Israeli army's spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, on Saturday announced "expanding its operations," and moving to the "next phase of our war against Hamas," which includes ground operations.

Source: EN - Anadolu Agency

Bishop of Neapolis, Porfyrios, delivered medical and pharmaceutical supplies for the needs of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh in a visit to Armenia, during which he held a meeting with the Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II. The Bishop visited Armenia to express the solidarity of the Church of Cyprus with the Armenian Apostolic Church and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and delivered the medical and pharmaceutical supplies during his visit with Catholicos Karekin II. 'The aid provided by the Church of Cyprus will be used for the treatment of Nagorno-Karabakh refugees', Bishop Porfyrios told CNA. He added that the Armenian Patriarchate operates a hospital, which he has visited and where refugees and underprivileged people were being treated. He said he conveyed the wishes and greetings of the Archbishop of Cyprus, Georgios, while the Catholicos of the Armenians expressed his gratitude to the Archbishop and the Church of Cyprus for the support.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Vaccinations against COVID-19 and the flu continue in all districts with data indicating that so far, since the beginning of October when the vaccinations started, 7,000 citizens have been vaccinated for COVID-19 and 5,600 received the flu shot. Evagoras Tambouris, Deputy Director of Nursing Services of the Ministry of Health told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that starting from today, Monday, vaccination for COVID-19 and the flu has begun for individuals over the age of 18. The vaccinations were exclusively for those above 60 years old since the beginning of October. "Starting today, Monday, October 23, the Ministry of Health's vaccination programme gives all citizens above 18 years old the opportunity to visit vaccination centers to receive both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines simultaneously," said Tambouris. He noted that those interested in only getting the COVID-19 vaccine can do so, but those interested in only the flu vaccine should consult their personal doctors. Vaccination centers are located at the State Fair Grounds A and are open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 2:30 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8 am to 5:30 pm. In Limassol at the Linopetra Health Center from 8 am to 2:30 pm and on Wednesday from 8 am to 5:30 pm, at Kyperounda Vaccination Center (Troodos Hospital) on Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 2:30 pm, in Larnaca at the old General Hospital daily from from 8 am to 2:30 pm. In Paphos at the General Hospital, daily except Thursdays from 8 am to 2:30 pm and Polis Chrysochous Hospital vaccinations are by appointment only every Tuesday. In Famagusta district vaccinations are carried out at the Famagusta Health Centre on Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 2:30 pm. Citizens can get vaccinated for the flu by bringing their ID with them. For COVID-19, they should bring both their ID and their previous vaccination card. Tambouris explained that the COVID-19 vaccine is an annual dose against the disease, and for some individuals, it may be their fourth, fifth, or sixth dose. He noted that some people choose to receive both vaccines simultaneously, while others prefer to have them at different times. He also said that the timely delivery of COVID-19 and flu vaccines has contributed to better vaccination programme planning. He advised people to get vaccinated before the winter season begins.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The death toll in Gaza due to Israel's ongoing bombardment has climbed to 4,651, including 1,873 children, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said Sunday. In a statement, Ashraf Qudra, a ministry spokesman, said that 1,023 women were also among the people killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7. The number of injured has risen to 14,245, the spokesman added. The conflict in Gaza, under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers. The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. More than 1,400 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack. Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis, with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out. On Saturday, a humanitarian aid convoy began entering the Gaza Strip from Egypt. It was the first aid delivery to Gaza since armed conflict broke out between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

Source: EN - Anadolu Agency