Health Care Under Occupation in Palestine
March 29, 2006 - 7 PM
San Diego State University
Student Services Building Rm#1401

Speakers and Biographies

Wisam Hasanat

Wisam is from Dayr Duban Village. He was born and raised in Dheisheh Refugee Camp along with his six brothers and four sisters. Wisam was politically active during the first Intifada as a young adolescent. He was shot in both legs by an Israeli soldier while participating in a demonstration against the military occupation. Wisam received his practical nursing degree in
al-Khalil (Hebron); he is currently completing his BSN at Al Quds University. He works at Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation and Surgery. His specialty areas include surgical and emergency care. He has worked and continues to work with patients who were wounded by gunshots, explosions and beatings by Israeli settlers and soldiers. Wisam is an active member of the Nursing Union and Union of Palestine Healthcare workers. He also provided psychological support services to those whose family members were killed and/or imprisoned by Israeli soldiers in addition to those whose homes were demolished. Wisam is the founding member and director of the Ibdaa Health Committee. He is married and has two sons.

Areej Ja'fari

Areej is from Dary Rafat Village. She was born and raised in Dheisheh Refugee Camp. She is currently completing her BS degree in Computers and Information Systems. Promoting gender equality and empowerment of women constitutes her primary political aim. Areej is an active member of the Health Committee in which she works with the Women's Health subcommittee.
She joined the first women's basketball team and is currently the coordinator of the Women's Committee where she organizes educational programs and other activities for women such as English and computer classes, and empowerment and leadership training for female youth.
Areej has five sisters and two brothers.

Talal Shihadeh

Talal is from Faluja Village. Following the 1948 Nakba, his family fled to al-Khalil where they lived until the 70s. Fearing for their lives due to the Israeli settlers and soldiers, they fled to Dheisheh Refugee Camp. Talal was politically active within the resistance movement prior to and during the first Intifada; he is a former political prisoner. He assumed a leadership role within the student union at Bethlehem University while working on his nursing degree. He organized political, social and cultural activities. Talal is a founding member of the Ibdaa Health Committee and currently serves as the Director of Public Relations. Talal is a nurse with more than 17 years of experience. He worked at Agosta Victoria Hospital in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) for 14 years. However, due to the construction of the annexation wall and denial by the Israeli authority to obtain a travel permit he was forced to leave his position. Talal currently works at Beit Jala General Hospital. His specialty areas include surgical and emergency care and pediatrics. He is also an active member in the Nursing Union and Union of Palestine Healthcare Workers. He is currently completing his MA in Public Health at Al Quds University. Talal is married and has two sons.

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