Pediatric orthopedic surgeon visits West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon

Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery is a major problem in the Middle East. In Palestine, there is a great need to provide such a specialized service, especially with the high number of children injured by IDF gunfire and shells. In 2001, the PCRF responded to this crisis by sending a well known pediatric orthopedic surgeon from the US to the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon to do an evaluation of the orthopedic needs there, as well as to provide some treatment of children in the refugee camps in Lebanon.

The last week of June, Dr. Hugh Watts, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon from Los Angeles and the former chief of staff at the Shriners Hospital there, toured hospitals in Palestine and Lebanon. There he saw many sick and injured Arab children in need of surgery. He also evaluated the needs in pediatric orthopedic surgery in the region. In Lebanon, Dr. Watts participated in orthopedic surgery procedures and provided an evaluation report to the PCRF on the long-term needs for improving the quality of pediatric orthopedic care in the region. Dr. Watts is continually helping us in our efforts as a member of The PCRF’s Medical Advisory Board. The PCRF is also working with other orthopedic surgeons and organizations to try to improve the quality of pediatric orthopedic care in Palestine and the Middle East.