Gaza’s Cancer Patients: Navigating the dual struggle of illness and war

At the 28th World Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, healthcare professionals focused on the challenges faced by cancer patients living in war-torn regions like Gaza.

The session, led by Dr. Navid Madani and featuring HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, highlighted the dual struggle of battling cancer while enduring conflict.

Experts such as Drs. Mads Gilbert, Sobhi Skaik, Leslie Lehmann, Reem Al-Ajouni and Ru’a Rimawi shared their insights on the barriers to care in these regions and the toll that war takes on both physical and mental health. The panel also explored ways to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve support for chronic disease management in conflict zones.

Moderator

Navid Madani is a Senior Scientist at DFCI and Harvard Medical School. She founded the Science Health Education (SHE) Center to address knowledge gaps in healthcare within resource-limited countries (RLCs). Dr. Madani has organized international conferences and led public health projects focusing on infectious diseases, cancer, and healthcare management in RLCs and Europe. Having grown up during the Iran-Iraq war, she comes from a conflict-ridden RLC. She is also a current cancer patient, which gives her unique insights into the need for patient-centered care in RLCs. She has authored over 80 scientific papers and contributes to global health discussions.

Keynote

HRH Dina Mired is a leading global advocate for cancer control and non-communicable diseases. She served as the first Arab President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and transformed the King Hussein Cancer Foundation into a global leader. A mother of a cancer survivor, she is Patron of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology and serves on the WHO Expert Group for Cervical Cancer Elimination. Princess Dina also leads initiatives like the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Gaza Health Initiative. A tobacco control advocate, she has received numerous awards, including the WHO World No Tobacco Day Award.

Ru’a Rimawi is a Palestinian physician and researcher who earned her medical degree from Al-Quds University in Jerusalem. She is a member of the Palestinian Neuroscience Initiative and founded Pediatric Research, Alliance, and Leaders, the first pediatric research infrastructure in Palestine, at Stanford and Al-Quds. Since September 2023, she has been a SHE-DFCI postdoctoral fellow, focusing on global health equity, particularly addressing oncological disparities in the MENA region’s pediatric population. Dr. Rimawi is dedicated to improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations and has been an integral part of the SHE team for several years.

Speakers

Mads Gilbert is a Norwegian doctor, professor emeritus, and author specializing in anesthesiology and emergency medicine at The Arctic University of Norway. He has worked in solidarity with Palestinians since 1981, primarily in Gaza, and has also contributed to medical projects in Burma, Cambodia, Angola, and Afghanistan. Gilbert is the author of several books on trauma care and his experiences during Israeli attacks on Gaza, including “Eyes in Gaza” and “Night in Gaza.” He travels to Gaza annually for research, teaching, and healthcare development. In 2013, he was named Commander of The Order of St. Olav for his contributions to emergency medicine.

Sobhi Skaik is the director of the Gaza Cancer Center and a distinguished leader in surgery, specializing in laparoscopy and surgical oncology, with over three decades of experience. He previously served as Head of Surgery and Medical Director at Shifa Hospital in Gaza. A fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and holder of multiple medical board certifications, Dr. Skaik has authored numerous research papers on trauma and surgery. He has played a key role in training future healthcare professionals and shaping health policies as an assistant professor of surgery at Al Azhar and Islamic Medical Universities in Gaza.

Leslie Lehmann attended Harvard College for her undergraduate studies and Duke University for medicine. After completing a pediatric residency and serving as chief resident, she pursued a pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship at DFCI/Children’s Hospital Boston, where she later joined the faculty. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the Division of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children’s Hospital and Associate Program Director for Education/Training and Quality. Dr. Lehmann is passionate about global health, developing pediatric oncology programs in Iraq, Mexico, and Rwanda, and leading a fellowship program in Cairo. She is now collaborating with the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Institute.

Reem Al-Ajouni is a public health leader and health economist with 13 years of experience in social development, health policy, and program management. As the Director of the Jordan Breast Cancer Program at the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center, she has led impactful projects in healthy living and disease prevention. Reem has held key roles at USAID, UNICEF, and Médecins du Monde, contributing to health, social protection, and women’s and children’s rights. She holds a BSc in Pharmacy from the University of Jordan and a master’s in health economics from the University of South Wales.