The Collapse of the Gazan Healthcare System and its Impact on Pregnant Women.

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Be’eri Clinic.

Barzilai Hospital.

Soroka Medical Centre.

Sheba Medical Centre.

Jenin Governmental Hospital.

Khalil Suleiman Hospital.

Al-Ahli Arab Hospital.

Al-Shifa Hospital.

Al-Quds Hospital.

Al-Amal Hospital.

Jordan Field Hospital.

Al-Awda Hospital.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Hospital.

Kamal Adwan Hospital.

Yafa Hospital.

Nasser Medical Complex.

Gaza European Hospital.

Al-Rantisi children’s hospital.

Al-Nasr children’s hospital.

Al-Aqsa Hospital.

Al Basma IVF Centre.

No, this isn’t a list of Gaza's healthcare facilities—it’s a relentless sequence of destruction. Each of these hospitals and medical centres has been shelled, struck, shot at, bombed, or ravaged by tear gas. None of these hospitals are standing today.

A brief timeline

During the first week of the war since October 7th, there were 94 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, killing 29 healthcare workers and injuring 4.

By the end of November, the World Health Organisation (WHO) documented 427 attacks on healthcare in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, resulting in 566 fatalities and 758 injuries.

By February 2024, it was reported that every hospital in Gaza was either, damaged, destroyed, or out of service.

As of June 2024, Israel has attacked 464 healthcare facilities, killed 727 healthcare facilities, injured 933 healthcare workers, and destroyed 113 ambulances.

What does this mean for pregnant women?

The collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system poses severe risks to pregnant women.

Access to essential prenatal care is greatly reduced, meaning many women may be unable to receive the necessary check-ups and screenings that ensure the health of both mother and baby.

For high-risk pregnancies, this lack of care could lead to undiagnosed complications, putting lives at greater risk.

The overcrowded hospitals also limit access to safe childbirth. Many women may be forced to deliver at home or in unsanitary conditions, raising the likelihood of dangerous complications like hemorrhaging or obstructed labour.

Without access to trained medical professionals, emergencies during delivery may be life-threatening. Inadequate postpartum care further increases the risk of maternal infections and infant mortality, as newborns may not receive the attention they need.

This lack of healthcare infrastructure in Gaza could significantly increase maternal and infant mortality rates. Compounding the physical risks, the mental health of pregnant women is under immense strain, as stress and anxiety from the ongoing conflict and lack of support negatively affect both their health and fetal development. In such conditions, pregnant women and their babies face devastating consequences.