Shorouq Mohamadin, Masafer Bani Naim Bedouin Camp, May 2011
17 year old Shorouq Mohammad Mohamadin comes from an isolated Bedouin Camp called Masafer Bani Naim. She lives there with her mother, father, four brothers and four sisters.
*Shorouq Mohamadin
Although Shorouq’s parents are first cousins, Shorouq is the only one of her siblings to have been born with congenital disorders. At the age of one, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She was also found to suffer from growth retardation and developmental delay. She was able to attend school for only two years as no specialist schools for such cases are available in this remote area.
Masafer Bani Naim is situated east of the town of Bani Na’im. It is located at the border between the mountainous landscape of the southern West Bank and the low-level slopes that lead to the Dead Sea. Seven kilometres to the east of Hebron City, the area is home to a scattered community of Bedouin and farmers, whose accommodation is a mixture of simple brick or stone houses, shacks, and the tents that are mostly used by the Bedouin.
The Bedouin are a primarily desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group. Originally, the term referred to "camel-raising" tribes, but due to economic changes, many have now settled.
Shorouq was brought to our Hospital in Hebron with her vision greatly reduced. She was suffering from bilateral cataract – or cataracts in both eyes.
By the time we our doctors saw Shorouq, her vision had deteriorated to such an extent that she could barely see her hands in front of her face. As a result she was very agitated and needed help with almost everything. This, in turn, was affecting the whole family.
Shorouq underwent cataract extraction surgery on her right eye in January this year, and on her left eye in May.
*Shorouq about to undergo surgery in Hebron.
The surgeries were performed by Consultant Surgeon, Dr. Majdi Samaha on a day care basis with no complications. Post-surgery, the eyes looked good and Shorouq’s vision has improved to 6/6, which is the best ratio possible for corrected vision. According to her family, Shorouq is now tranquil and manageable.
Although Shorouq’s father does have daily employment, the Mohamadin’s are very poor. Our Nurse Co-ordinator at Hebron, Gandy Modyeh, visited the family on two occasions and believed that most were suffering from malnutrition and anaemia. Shorouq’s mother, of course, must remain at home in order to care for her daughter.
*Shorouq with Dr. Samaha after her surgery.
We were able to exempt the Mohamadin’s from having to pay for Shorouq’s treatment, with the not inconsiderable costs being shared between UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agencyfor Palestine Refugees), local charity, Operation Blessing Fund, and our own Patient Relief Fund.
The Mohamadin family expressed enormous relief, and gratitude to all of our staff at Hebron, as a result of their experience of bringing their daughter to our Hospital there.