Gaza burn survivors get 3D face masks closer to home

Gaza burn survivors, victims of fire from a nearby bakery, can now have their face masks made for them closer to home.

The burn patients survived a massive fire that killed 25 people last year.

Ahmed Al-Natour is one such survivor who is now using a therapeutic face mask. Other burn survivors of the fire are an eight-year-old girl and her mother, Maram al-Amawi and Izdihar al-Amawi.

A Project by Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Where previously such burn victims have to travel to their neighbouring country, Jordan, to get the mask, they are now able to get them close to home, thanks to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an international medical charity organization.

The MSF Foundation who already had experience in making 3D face masks for patients with facial burns in Jordan and Haïti since mid-2018.

Therapeutic 3D Face Masks Fastens Healing Process

The project was started in 2020, where at least 20 people have been fitted with the 3D face masks. The use of 3D face masks enables patients to receive treatments quicker. The face masks are transparent, puts pressure on the face, and patients have to wear it for approximately half a day, and up to six months to a year in total.

According to Ahmed Al-Natour, the burn patient, the face mask also helps to prevent from scratching his face, which would otherwise further worsen his condition/

A 3D scan of the patient’s face is done at the clinic, and the 3D face mask is then printed in Gaza, by a Gaza-based company that owns the 3D printer. According to Abed El-Hamid Qaradaya, MSF’s physiotherapy activity manager in Gaza, at least 23 of the 3D masks have been made since last year, which has helped the patients in their recovery.

Anyone interested to donate to the project can do so at the MSF website.

Also Read: Digital Perak Team Up With Robotic Arm Maker, To Unleash The Potential of 3D Printing

Farah I, Writer & Researcher

Farah Ishak is a Content Writer at Halalop. She grew up in the United Kingdom where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Management. Later, she completed her MBA and held senior-level positions in Malaysian based MNC. She left the corporate world to be with her young kids. She is passionate about issues concerning Muslim women, Startups and Muslim businesses in general.