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Arab News
a day ago
- General
- Arab News
Defense Ministry launches first mobile field hospital at holy sites
RIYADH: The Ministry of Defense has launched a mobile field hospital for the first time at the holy sites to boost healthcare services during the Hajj. The hospital will provide comprehensive and high-quality medical services, the ministry said on Wednesday. 'The Joint Forces Command has harnessed all facilities and health services to ensure that the guests of God perform the Hajj pilgrimage with ease (and) in good health,' the ministry added. The state-of-the-art facility comprises 29 trailers and 26 modules that house hospital components, including the main entrance, connecting corridors, emergency exits, and essential services. It includes inpatient wards with a 50-bed capacity, fully equipped pharmacy, radiology unit, medical laboratory, and specialized clinics. It also features a surgical operating room with a recovery and sterilization wing, intensive care and observation units, and an emergency department. The hospital reflects the vital role of the Ministry of Defense in serving pilgrims and boosting the health infrastructure at the holy sites, the ministry added. The ministry's General Directorate for Health Services said Tuesday it is ready to implement an integrated medical plan to support the Ministry of Health. This plan encompasses 36 health centers across the holy sites, with a combined capacity of more than 1,000 beds. There are 1,791 health and administrative personnel deployed at fixed and field hospitals, emergency centers, and specialized clinics in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Last hospital in North Gaza governorate evacuated after Israeli order
The last hospital providing health services in the North Gaza governorate is out of service after the Israeli military ordered its immediate evacuation, the hospital's director has Mohammed Salha said patients were evacuated from al-Awda hospital in Jabalia on Thursday evening. He told the BBC "we are feeling really bad about this forced evacuation" after "two weeks of siege", saying there is now "no health facility working in the north".Israel has not yet commented, but the BBC has contacted the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). "We're really sad that we evacuated the hospital, but the Israeli occupation forces threatened us that if we didn't evacuate, they would enter and kill whoever is inside," Dr Salha said in a voice note to the BBC. "Or they would bomb the hospital. We were thinking of the lives of patients and our staff."Dr Salha told the BBC the hospital faced "a lot of bombing and shooting from the tanks" from around noon local time (09:00 GMT) on Thursday. He received a call from the Israeli forces at about 13:00 to evacuate, and initially refused because there were patients in need of healthcare. He offered to stay with another 10 of his staff and evacuate the others, but the military refused, he said. After seven hours of negotiations, the evacuation occurred at about 20: carried patients more than 300 metres (984 feet) to ambulances parked far away from the hospital "because the roads are totally destroyed".A video sent by Dr Salha of the evacuation, and verified by the BBC, shows a line of ambulances with lights and sirens on driving at night."Due to impassable roads" the hospital's medical equipment could not be relocated, the World Health Organization (WHO) humanitarian agency OCHA said on Thursday "ongoing hostilities over the past two weeks have damaged the hospital, disrupted access, and created panic, deterring people from seeking care". Patients were evacuated to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza Salha told the BBC they would provide services through a primary health centre in Gaza City and said another might be established in a Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said the closure of al-Awda meant there was no remaining functioning hospital in the North Gaza governorate, "severing a critical lifeline for the people there". "WHO pleads for the hospital's protection and staff and patients' safety, and reiterates its call for the active protection of civilians and healthcare," he said. "Hospitals must never be attacked or militarized."The IDF had ordered evacuations of the areas of Al-Atatra, Jabalia Al-Balad, Shujaiya, Al-Daraj and Al-Zeitoun on Thursday evening, spokesperson Avichay Adraee said at the time on social media."Terrorist organisations continue their subversive activity in the region, and therefore the IDF will expand its offensive activity in the areas where you are present to destroy the capabilities of the terrorist organisations," he said."From this moment on, the mentioned areas will be considered dangerous combat."Al-Awda hospital was inside an evacuation zone announced last week, but had still been functioning, its director previously said.A statement from 18 charities on Thursday said the hospital was under military besiegement "for the fourth time since October 2023 and has been struck at least 28 times". The emergency room was hit, injuring four staff, and the desalination plant and storage unit also struck, leading to the loss of all medicine, supplies and equipment, the charities IDF told the BBC last week it was "operating in the area against terror targets", but that it was "not aware of any siege on the hospital itself".Apart from hospitals, some primary healthcare centres are still operating in Gaza, with 61 out of 158 partially or fully functional as of 18 May, OCHA said. Nine out of 27 UN Palestinian refugee agency health centres were also did not report how many, if any, centres were in the north Gaza governorate. Israel is continuing its bombardment of Gaza, which most Palestinians are not currently able to leave, after a brief ceasefire earlier this began to allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza last week, after a nearly three-month blockade that halted the delivery of supplies including food, medicine, fuel and shelter. Security broke down and looting took place as Palestinians searched for food in Gaza City on Thursday. Scenes of chaos have also broken out at aid distribution centres run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation - a US-and Israeli-backed UN and many aid groups have refused to co-operate with the GHF's plans, which they say contradict humanitarian principles and appear to "weaponise aid".Israel said it imposed the blockade on Gaza to pressurise Hamas to release the remaining hostages, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. It has also accused Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies.A UN-backed assessment this month said Gaza's 2.1 million people were at a "critical risk" of famine. The UN's humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the BBC people in the territory were being subjected to "forced starvation" by launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken least 54,249 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 3,986 since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, according to the territory's Hamas-run health reporting by Naomi Scherbel-Ball and Alice Cuddy in Jerusalem
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Dublin 4 residents object to proposed health centre over fears of drug, STI treatment offering
Residents and business owners in Dublin 4 have objected to a primary care centre planned by the HSE over concerns it may be a 'massive drug and sexual treatment centre'. Plans submitted to Dublin City Council detail a primary care centre ranging in height from three to six storeys on part of the site of the former Baggot Street hospital, with objectors describing the project as 'over the top' and inconsistent with the local area. The centre would be developed at the junction of Haddington Road and Eastmoreland Lane, while the remainder of the complex is set to be sold on the open market as no State agency wanted to take it over. Other objectors lamented how the HSE has 'failed' to maintain the former Baggot Street hospital, a protected structure described as 'the most prominent structure in the Upper Baggot Street area.' READ MORE A central and consistent complaint was borne from the belief the development might provide addiction and sexually-transmitted-infection (STI) treatment services. Writing to Dublin City Council last month on behalf of the Pembroke Road Association, Susan McCarrick said the 'ambiguity' surrounding service provision raises alarm about the potential introduction of services 'fundamentally unsuited' to the location. A particular concern for the association, which represents a 'substantial' cohort of residents, property owners and civic stakeholders, is the possible provision of addiction-related services. Although services such as methadone maintenance treatment, needle exchange programmes and detoxification support are 'essential,' Ms McCarrick said they would be 'entirely inappropriate' due to the planned centre's proximity to schools, childcare and 'pedestrian-heavy streetscapes'. [ Former Baggot Street hospital building to be sold on the open market Opens in new window ] She said such services must be situated in locations that are 'purpose-designed, contextually appropriate and buffered from vulnerable populations.' Oonagh O'Hagan, owner and managing director of Meaghers Pharmacy Group which has a pharmacy on Baggot Street, said traders have experienced shoplifting, open drug dealing and loitering in the past when a methadone clinic operated there previously. 'We have serious worries about the safety of our store and our team,' she said, adding that staff previously faced 'threats with weapons, including syringes, knives and even guns'. 'I am not for a moment alleging that the service users are to blame for these issues, however it is unfortunate that these facilities attract those who wish to exploit those service users by dealing drugs, targeting them for antisocial behaviour,' she said. Noting that tourists frequent the area, Ms O'Hagan said the development could tarnish its reputation, 'as well as that of the capital city and Ireland as a whole.' Haddington Road residents Noah Dixon and Michelle Morrisroe claimed the planning application was being portrayed as a primary care centre for locals 'but it will be a massive drug and sexual treatment centre for a greater part of the Dublin southeast area'. Bryan Kearney, another resident of Haddington Road, wrote that a drug treatment centre and STI clinic would 'destroy the whole neighbourhood.' Noting the concerns raised over the centre's final use, the planning department said this falls under the remit of the HSE and granted permission saying it would provide a 'valuable service.' It set out several conditions including the removal of one of the floors. It also criticised the HSE over its delay in disposing of the former Baggot Street hospital, saying such a delay in refurbishing the protected structure would have had a 'detrimental impact on the very fabric that is to be protected'. Asked about the objections, a spokeswoman for the HSE said it is 'currently working to decide which services will be located in the new centre.' Those currently under consideration, she said, include GP services, public health nurses, social work and child protection services, child health, services for older people, and physiotherapy.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Caithness campaigners welcome UN report on maternity services
A campaign group for improved access to maternity support in Caithness has welcomed UN recommendations on health services in rural areas. The community-led Caithness Health Action Team (Chat) has been leading calls for the restoration of a consultant-led maternity service in Wick.A report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has raised concerns about "high rates of maternal mortality" and "disparities in access to sexual and reproductive health services" affecting women and girls in remote Highland said it provided as many gynaecology and maternity procedures as it could in Caithness General Hospital. The Geneva-based UN committee has been examining a number of issues related to human rights across the United a section on sexual and reproductive health rights, the committee said women and girls in "peripheral and remote areas" were adversely affected by maternal mortality and disparities in access to sexual and reproductive services and recommended that the governments of the UK "increase efforts to ensure equal access to maternal health services" for migrant women and women from ethnic minority groups. It also recommended that facilities be properly equipped for antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care, "particularly in rural areas". The report went on to say that the availability of sexual and reproductive services should be strengthened, particularly for women and girls in rural and remote areas. 'Extra support' Chat has been campaigning for consultant-led maternity support to return to service was replaced by a midwife-led unit in 2016 because of safety concerns. People in the north Highlands can face round trips of 210 miles (338km) or more to give birth in campaigner Iain Gregory said the UN report provided "a huge amount of extra support" and he hoped the intervention would bring changes to the current said the UN committee considered written submissions by Chat in the process of writing the report.A spokesperson for NHS Highland said it provided as many gynaecology and maternity procedures as it could in Caithness General health board added that it had increased the midwifery team in Wick, with high risk or complex cases continuing to be referred to Scottish government said it was considering the recommendations of the report carefully.
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
FOXO TECHNOLOGIES INC.'S CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF SERVICES TO INCLUDE WOUND CARE
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOXO Technologies Inc. (NYSE American: FOXO) ('FOXO' or the 'Company') today announced that its critical access hospital, Big South Fork Medical Center in Oneida, Tennessee, is expanding its services by offering wound care services to patients on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The hospital intends to commence such services on June 2, 2025, and expects to complete the reconfiguration of certain space at the hospital and addition of key clinical hires to facilitate this expected start date. The hospital has experienced a growing need for wound care services particularly for diabetic patients who have wounds often characterized by excessive inflammation and reduced angiogenesis and have a higher risk for postoperative wound healing complications. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021 there were over 38 million diabetes patients in the U.S. with up to 15% of them experiencing diabetic foot ulcers. Hal Leftwich, Chief Executive Officer of Big South Fork Medical Center stated, 'We are excited about expanding our service offerings to patients in our communities. Wound care is a vital new service that we will offer to patients as we broaden our overall service offerings. This new service will build on our rural hospital that cares for over 600 patients in the emergency room and approximately 300 patients on an outpatient basis monthly.' Seamus Lagan, Chief Executive Officer of parent company, FOXO Technologies Inc., further added, 'we are pleased that our rural hospital is expanding its services that will, in turn, increase revenues and are working closely with hospital management to consider options available to us to further expand our footprint in East Tennessee.' About FOXO Technologies Inc. ('FOXO') FOXO owns and operates three subsidiaries. Rennova Community Health, Inc., owns and operates Scott County Community Hospital, Inc. (d/b/a Big South Fork Medical), a critical access designated (CAH) hospital in East Tennessee. Myrtle Recovery Centers, Inc., a 30-bed behavioral health facility in East Tennessee. Myrtle provides inpatient services for detox and residential treatment and outpatient services for MAT and OBOT Programs. FOXO Labs, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving human health and life span through the development of cutting-edge technology and product solutions for various industries. For more information about FOXO, visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the 'safe harbor' provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the FOXO's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to the risk of changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which FOXO operates; variations in operating performance across competitors or changes in laws and regulations affecting FOXO's business; the ability to implement FOXO's business plans, forecasts, and other expectations; the ability to obtain financing; the risk that FOXO has a history of losses and may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future; potential inability of FOXO to establish or maintain relationships required to advance its goals or to achieve its commercialization and development plans; the enforceability of FOXO's intellectual property, including its patents and the potential infringement on the intellectual property rights of others; and the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive biotechnology industry or in the markets or industries in which FOXO operates. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in FOXO's most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly the 'Risk Factors' sections of those reports, and in other documents FOXO has filed, or will file, with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and FOXO assumes no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Contact: Sebastien Sainsbury [email protected] (561) 485-0151
