In summary, Gro Halten worked as a nurse at a field hospital in Rafah, Gaza, where she often had to make difficult choices about who should get help due to a lack of resources. She experienced receiving up to 50 patients in one hour, many with serious injuries she had never seen before. Despite the fact that the hospital had to evacuate several times and there were bullet holes in the tent walls, Halten says she was never afraid. Over 500 health workers in Gaza have been killed since the war broke out in 2023, and over 300 have been imprisoned. Halten, who teaches nursing students at Molde University College on a daily basis, says that she can imagine going back to Gaza if the opportunity presents itself. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. After working five weeks in Gaza as a nurse, Gro Halten is back in her home town of Kristiansund. The intensive care nurse is tired, but most of all grateful for being allowed to help. Every day she usually worked ten hours or more at the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah. Priority was given to those who could survive Mykje was the same as in Norway. But the equipment was not as modern, and it was not enough. One thing in particular was fundamentally different. – When patients arrive who are badly injured, we are used to taking them first. But there we didn’t have the resources to treat them, says Gro. – So then we had to take those we thought could survive first. So then you have to put the seriously injured aside, let them die and try to arrange a dignified ending. Lack of equipment meant that the staff found creative solutions. Photo: Private/Red Cross 50 patients in one hour She could hear the bombs not far from the hospital, and then the sirens came. – Then a few minutes pass, and then the first patients start to arrive. Several times there were very many patients in a short time. – 20 patients in 15 minutes, it’s quite demanding. Not to mention 50 patients in less than one hour. So you have to work fast. It was not far from the fighting to the hospital area in Rafah. Photo: Private/ Red Cross Injuries she had never seen before The patients were people of all ages. They had gunshot and splinter injuries. Cracks and damage from bombs, damage she had never seen before. There is a maternity ward at the field hospital and several children were born while Gro Halten worked there. If she had a demanding day, she went to the ward to greet the babies as a break. Photo: Private/ Røde Kors Halten witnessed many sad fates, but also beautiful moments. Like when she managed to find the mother of a two-year-old who came alone and badly injured to the hospital. – Then I see that she actually has a mother who loves her. And the girl reached out her hands to her mother and just clings to her. Concern for his wife The contrasts between being in the war-torn area and having sunny holidays at home in Kristiansund are stark. Laughter abounds when she and her husband Roar Halten receive news in the garden. – I feared that you would come home and have become a very serious person. I’m glad it didn’t happen, says Roar. – There were many serious incidents and situations. But you can’t take the patients home now, you don’t do that when you’re at work in Norway either, replies Gro. The two talked almost every single day when Gro was in Gaza. – It was a very strange experience to sit here at home and talk to the person you love most in the whole world, about everyday things, while hearing bombs and machine guns in the background. For the record: Roar Halten has previously been appointed to news. – I am now very proud of her. I will not stand in the way of her doing this several times, says Roar Halten. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Never afraid Despite the fact that there were bullet holes in the tent walls and the hospital had to evacuate several times, Gro says she was never afraid. There were guards at the hospital and the Red Cross had an extensive security plan. – Every day is a dangerous situation, but then you have to trust that those who know what they are doing make good assessments. For Roar, it was a great relief when his wife came home. – Even if you never have so much confidence that she will be well taken care of, there is always an uncertainty. The volunteers lived in a house on the hospital grounds. There they shared a room and had to have their work clothes ready in case they were urgently called in during the night. Photo: Private/Red Cross 500 health workers killed But there is a risk in taking on such tasks. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, over 500 health workers in Gaza have been killed since this war broke out in October 2023. Over 300 are imprisoned and there have been reports of torture of health workers. – The medical needs in Gaza are enormous, so it is positive that international health workers are contributing. The vast majority travel well aware of the risks, with a lot of experience in their luggage, writes Catharina Bu, secretary general of the UN association, to news. A patient arrives at the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah in Gaza. Photo: Private / Red Cross Teaches nursing students On a daily basis, Gro Halten teaches nursing students at Molde University College. – My employer has been very generous. I have prepared for three years and had the opportunity to take assignments in Africa to qualify myself for the assignment. Elin Mordal, rector at Molde University College, praises the department for health and social studies for finding solutions that enabled Gro to travel to Gaza. – I am sure that the students will benefit greatly from taking part in the experience that Gro gets as a volunteer for the Red Cross. Received sand as a parting gift When Gro was going home, she received a parting gift from a colleague: a bottle of sand. The sand in the bottle is taken from the area around the hospital. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news – He said that every time you look at it here, you should think of us. It’s not much, but it’s what I can give you. The bottle has found a place in the living room. – I think about my colleagues every day. I went home, while they stayed behind and continued their work. If the opportunity presents itself, and the employer allows it, then I may travel back. Published 05/08/2024, at 18.00
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Gro Halten worked as a nurse in war-torn Gaza for the Red Cross – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
