Although Polio is a disease that can be prevented by vaccination, even its number has decreased significantly compared to past decades,  it is still a threat in the world, especially in poor countries. Cases continue to appear in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and are occasionally reported in more than 30 countries around the world.

Smallpox was eradicated with a widespread vaccination effort that had lasted about fifteen to twenty years. It should be noted that the Smallpox vaccination campaign dates back to the 1960s and 1970s. It is hard to even imagine the technological and logistical developments the world has experienced since those days. But despite this, we, as humanity, have not been able to eradicate any other disease from the world, and unfortunately, we do not seem to be able to eradicate it in the near future.

We should carefully consider the reasons for this situation. All of this means that although we have tremendous opportunities, these opportunities are not being used. Resources are distributed unequally in the world: vaccines, medicines, and technology. This inequality has been increasing day by day since the 1970s. While those most in need cannot access sufficient resources, a certain minority is swimming in resources. Since the wheels of capitalism continue to turn with all their inhumanity in the field of health in a unipolar world, the world is more incapable of using its current potential than in the past.

In the midst of all these events, it is not possible to think of Gaza separately from the situation the world is in, nor the world from Gaza. In July 2024, as a result of the systematic destruction of Gaza’s health system and all vital infrastructure by the Israeli occupation regime in the genocidal process it has been following since October 2023, a case of Polio was seen in Gaza after a 25-year hiatus. Since the Polio vaccine usually needs to be administered in four doses, meaning that the number of vaccines that need to be administered is relatively high, a good vaccination network needs to be established, and, more importantly, you need to have enough vaccines.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF are helping to supply vaccines to Gaza. However, vaccines are also included in the medical and humanitarian aid that the Israeli occupation regime has restricted and completely blocked from entering Gaza since March 2. In addition to all this, vaccinating and providing health services to the people in Gaza, which was turned into a ruin by bombs after October 7, 2023, poses extraordinary difficulties.

Twenty-five years later, in July 2024, after the first case was seen, a Palestinian doctor took the initiative and accomplished miraculous things in the midst of poverty. He led a campaign  in which 600,000 Palestinian children were vaccinated twice . He went door-to-door to convince families to vaccinate their children. He prevented the epidemic from growing. This hero is Public Health Specialist Doctor Younis Awadallah, who was born and raised in Gaza. He retired after working for UNICEF for many years. He has devoted forty years of his life to health work in Gaza and is especially active in the field of vaccination.

TIME magazine featured Dr. Awadallah on its cover as one of the 100 health professionals in the world for 2025 (TIME100 Health 2025). The magazine’s note shared, “When UNICEF was forced to evacuate from Rafah in southern Gaza, Awadallah found a building in central Gaza with a meat freezer to safely store vaccines.” It then explains how Dr. Awadallah led the vaccination campaign.

As the Istanbul Medical Chamber Solidarity With Palestine Working Group, we often emphasize that the history of the Palestinian struggle has always produced many heroes, named or unnamed. It is the history of blood, death, and tears, as well as heroism, resistance, and struggle. Dr. Younis Awadallah has written his name among these. We owe him gratitude.

However, how can the Israeli occupation regime remove UNICEF, a United Nations (UN) organization, from Gaza? How can the UN and UNICEF remain so ineffective in the face of such a practice? How is it that the UN has left the vital task of vaccination which will affect not only the health of a nation but the entire world, to the initiative of individuals? These and many similar questions await answers.

While TIME magazine and UNICEF’s announcement of Dr. Younis Awadallah’s heroism to the world is a positive step, it is not enough. The responsibility of Occupying Israel in this and similar incidents must also be revealed.

It is not enough to just help Gaza and Palestine, wish them well, etc., it is also necessary to emphasize why they need help. As the Istanbul Medical Chamber Solidarity With Palestine Working Group, we are trying to do both and will continue to do so. Knowing that there are many more doctors and health workers who have taken a similar stance and will do so, we salute Dr. Younis Awadallah with our feelings of solidarity.

The Istanbul Medical Chamber Solidarity With Palestine Working Group Members

Dr. Serap Erdoğan Taycan

Dr. Ertuğrul Oruç