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What the hospitals witnessed is described by medical sources as an “epic”, or real Hollywood scenes, whose events we witness with our own eyes.. Exhaustion, fatigue, constant thinking, and most importantly, strong hearts that endured and overcame the tragedy.. Whoever writes or reads what happened to the doctors is not like someone who lived that moment.. What do you expect from a doctor who sees faces disfigured by criminality? What do you expect from a doctor who saw eyes that he was certain would never see the light of the sun again? What do you expect from a doctor who carried fingers that were amputated in a criminal act that rose to the level of a mass crime.. Finally, what do you expect from a doctor who saw his relative in pain, screaming, asking why the light had disappeared from before him, and wondering why he was unable to feel anything?
Many questions are being asked, and many stories will be told about these two tragic days later, but here we must shed light on the hospitals that were transformed into a stage for humanitarian battles, during which doctors struggled with all their might.
Despite the sudden event, which required the admission of more than 3,000 wounded to hospitals, more than 90% of whom required urgent intervention, all medical sources confirmed the diligent work and more than excellent coordination that took place, whether at the level of hospitals among themselves, or between hospitals and the relevant official bodies.
This distinguished work between all parties and departments was translated into a large number of operations that were completed within 24 hours, as doctors worked day and night, and insisted on not leaving the hospitals, in an attempt to save the largest possible number of patients. So how were the hospitals able to receive this huge number of wounded?
Haroun: Hospitals are always ready
At the beginning of his speech, the head of the Syndicate of Private Hospitals in Lebanon, Suleiman Haroun, was keen to highlight the distinguished organizational work carried out by hospitals in Lebanon, whether in terms of receiving the wounded, in addition to organizing the dates of emergency and urgent operations, and even distributing the wounded to dozens of hospitals according to their condition.
During a phone call with Lebanon 24, Haroun pointed out that the hospitals had originally been prepared for a long time for any major event, and that an emergency plan had been put in place in advance in coordination with the Ministry of Health, but the hospitals were not expected to receive more than 2,700 wounded in a short period of time.
Haroun pointed out that the types of injuries that arrived at the hospitals were multiple, including injuries to the eyes, abdomen, bones, hands, hips and legs, noting that the wounded needed more than one surgical operation under the supervision of more than one specialist doctor, in addition to the need to enter intensive care.
Despite this great pressure, Haroun confirmed that thanks to the full readiness, the hospitals were able to accommodate all the wounded who arrived, and so far, there are still wounded receiving treatment in hospitals, and others will undergo surgery, depending on their health condition. However, the most important thing is that the operation was organized and carried out at a high level of professionalism.
Haroun did not hide to “Lebanon 24” the size of the huge financial burdens that the hospitals incurred, as he indicated that “we have not yet been able to conduct a survey of the size of the cost that was spent, but it is certain that it reached millions of dollars because the cases were very difficult and expensive,” indicating that “the first and highest goal was to treat the wounded, and then we will move on to research how to resupply the hospitals with the possible funds and productive equipment.”
What about specialist doctors?
It is known that Lebanon has witnessed a large wave of doctors’ migration, who obtained attractive contracts abroad, especially in the Gulf countries. Has this affected the process of performing operations?
Haroun confirms that the operations were carried out quickly in coordination between all the doctors, but he points out that the main problem is that the wounded needed more than one operation in more than one specialty, especially in the eyes, as not all hospitals include eye centers, and thus the wounded person was forced to go to the hospital to perform the operation that would save his life in the first place, and then he was sent to a hospital or center specializing in eyes to perform the necessary operation for the injury.
Garius: What the doctors did is honorable.
The organizational scene that contributed to providing aid to the largest possible number of wounded was emphasized by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mount Lebanon University Hospital, Dr. Nazih Gharios, who pointed out that the organization process was more than good, especially between the Ministry of Health and the hospitals.
During a phone call with Lebanon 24, Garius pointed out that the hospitals received all the wounded, and their treatment continued around the clock without any interruption. Out of the 150 wounded who entered Mount Lebanon University Hospital, there are still about 40 wounded, noting that the 150 cases underwent more than 100 operations, as there was more than one case that required more than one operation.
Garius praised the work of the doctors and nurses, who worked without being asked about anything, as their only goal was to save the lives of the wounded, and to make the greatest possible change in the patients’ condition, in terms of reducing the effects of the explosion of wireless devices, noting that during the continuous work, there were doctors who performed more than 40 operations.
Garius confirmed that, unfortunately, eye injuries were among the most common cases received, in addition to a double injury to the eyes and hands.
How did hospitals prepare?
In the context of his speech, and based on the successful organizational work, Garius pointed out that the hospitals, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, had conducted training rounds and special maneuvers inside them, simulating the process of receiving dozens of injuries at one moment, as he indicated that this matter was implemented at the moment of the disaster with a distinguished level of professionalism.
Gharios told Lebanon 24 that 90% of doctors, especially surgeons, have been secured, noting that logistical preparations do not stop at doctors only, as hospitals in such a situation need to secure security and guard personnel due to the congestion that such events could cause, and hospitals here are originally forced to understand the families and accommodate the large number of patients.
Regarding the speed of work, Garius pointed out that the Ministry of Health’s instructions and the training that hospitals conducted before the disaster contributed to accelerating the completion of operations and receiving the wounded. For example, there were prior preparations for the nurse’s need for medical tools that could be used in the event of any emergency, and this contributed to saving time and starting to prepare the wounded quickly.
In addition, Garius points out that a large number of doctors who are not considered surgeons have devoted their abilities and knowledge to contributing to alleviating the pain of the wounded and working to treat the wounded.
Garius considered that the scene of the medical rush that was observed inside the hospital will never be forgotten, due to the great humanitarian meanings it contained, which were summed up by the medical staff. The matter did not stop with the patients and doctors, as even the administrative staff were present on the ground, ready to provide any assistance.
