The Lebanese government has suspended this year's school year as it mulls a daily Israeli offensive that has killed over 2000 people so far, and displaced more than 1.2 million.
A school in central Beirut is brimming with children, but they're not here to study. These are displaced families who fled the Israeli military offensive in southern Lebanon.
"The brutality by Israel and attacks on us, the civilians. We had to leave our destroyed homes and come here with our children," said Hussein Gomaa, a displaced Lebanese.
Hundreds of thousands have taken refuge in schools around the country, with many staying for up to two months.
Books, pens, and paper have been swapped out for personal belongings. The classroom has become their temporary residence. There's no room left in schools and universities for the students.
Lebanon has a total of 904,000 students enrolled in primary and secondary education, and has around 87,808 teachers, with about 55 percent working in the private sector. The number of teachers in primary education in 2022 was 35,937.
The Lebanese government has suspended the academic year in fear for the safety of students amid the ongoing Israeli strikes.
Close to a million students and tens of thousands of teachers may have to forfeit this academic year. The government says it could provide online learning, an idea dismissed by most including Hassan Dia, a father of two.
"It's not practical to go school in this situation. Online? There are electricity blackouts all the time, and the internet barely functions. Online learning is useless," said Hassan Dia, a Lebanese resident.
However, Saeed Bashir, Executive Council Member of Teachers Syndicate, believes it's crucial to re-open schools and universities.
"The role of the government is to open schools in the safe neighborhoods because education builds nations, the mind, and the character, and teaches this generation how to stand up against the Israeli oppression," said Bashir.
Bashir's group is in talks with the government for alternative measures.
"The state should have established a crisis management team. It should build shelters or offer the empty state-owned buildings as shelters instead of schools. We want only half the schools, in the safe areas to be opened, and we could have morning and night shifts to allow everyone the right to education," said Bashir.
It's an ambitious plan. But, for now, students are missing out on their education.
Education suspended in Lebanon due to ongoing Israeli strikes
Education suspended in Lebanon due to ongoing Israeli strikes
Education suspended in Lebanon due to ongoing Israeli strikes
Shanghai, a leading medical hub in China, is endeavoring to develop a comprehensive hospice care service system to offer enhanced medical treatment and more attentive emotional support to patients in their final stages of life.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is observed annually on the second Saturday in October. More and more people have come to understand that hospice care is not synonymous with giving up treatment. Instead, it refers to an approach that aims to improve the quality of life for patients struggling with life-limiting illnesses, enabling them to live with increased dignity.
Putuo District in Shanghai is among the first pilot areas in China to carry out hospice care services, which has established an integrated hospice service system since 2017 involving 12 community healthcare centers and technical assistance from local hospitals.
Wang, a 94-year-old patient with cerebral infarction, has received professional medical treatment and attentive emotional care in the hospice ward at the healthcare center of Changzheng Town Community in the district since mid-March this year.
"In terms of medical treatment, this center offers a whole set of professional programs that I find effective. Even if I could afford to hire a caregiver for my mom at home, she is not equipped with the right medical facilities and expertise as like here, and I still cannot help it and have to send her to the hospital. So I think the hospice care here is very desirable," said Wang's son.
The palliative care team at the healthcare center of Changzheng Town Community is made up of various professionals such as doctors, nurses, social workers, volunteers, and even psychological counselors. They can provide personalized services to patients in the late stages of serious illnesses where the chances of a cure are limited.
Over the past year, the community healthcare center saw a notable increase in admissions, with 268 patients against 150 the previous year. Patients can access medical services at affordable rates at the center.
"The daily treatment cost for each patient is about 400 yuan (about 57 U.S. dollars), with most of these expenses covered by medical insurance. Patients and their families only need to pay for caregiver services and meals as extra charges," said Hua Zhijia, deputy director of the community healthcare center.
Patients receiving palliative care within communities can be transferred to larger hospitals for advanced medical treatment if their condition deteriorates and becomes more complex, and they can return to community healthcare centers once their symptoms improve.
"Each year, there are usually 500 to 600 cases of patient referrals to larger hospitals or back to community centers, which means that about 50 to 60 patients require referral services each month," said Wu Ying, deputy director of Liqun Hospital in Putuo District.
Shanghai improves hospice care service system
