Objective:

To explore the underutilisation of rehabilitation services for children with cancer in Gaza, particularly in the context of ongoing conflict.

Approach:

• Study Population: Sixty-seven children with suspected or confirmed cancer were registered with the NGO Children Not Numbers (CNN) over an 18-month period.
• Symptoms and Referral: Despite exhibiting symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and weakness, none of the children were referred to the CNN rehabilitation team.

Key Findings:

• Gaza's healthcare infrastructure has been severely damaged due to ongoing conflict, affecting rehabilitation services.
• Children with cancer face significant challenges in diagnosis and treatment, contributing to low rehabilitation service utilisation.
• Factors such as inadequate analgesia, undernutrition, and psychological difficulties hinder access to rehabilitation.

Interpretation:

The report highlights the need for protection of health and rehabilitation infrastructure in conflict zones.

Limitations:

• Scarcity of literature on rehabilitation needs of children with cancer in conflict settings.
• The study may not capture all rehabilitation issues as children were not referred to or assessed by CNN's rehabilitation service.
• Findings may not be generalisable to other contexts or organizations due to the specific circumstances in Gaza.

Conclusion:

Protecting health and rehabilitation infrastructure is critical, alongside ensuring the evacuation of children with cancer.