I recently received a letter from MaineHealth suggesting I donate in honor of a care team member. As a retired nurse, I know just how hard these individuals work. From checking vital signs to cleaning rooms, their compassion and dedication are invaluable. As a patient, I’ve faced many health challenges and I’ve appreciated every bit of help. Yet, I found the donation request puzzling.
Many of us struggle with high health insurance costs, co-pays, and medications. According to MaineHealth’s website, their CEO, Andrew Mueller, has a staggering salary that tops $1.8 million. Meanwhile, the recently retired CFO earned over $1.3 million. Salaries like these can feel overwhelming, especially when most of us will never see that kind of income.
Instead of focusing solely on our local heroes, I think about healthcare workers in Gaza, who face dire conditions. Amid ongoing conflict, doctors, nurses, and medics are under constant threat. Reports indicate that over 1,000 healthcare workers have lost their lives, while countless others have been arrested or detained under brutal conditions.
Take, for instance, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital. He was arrested in November 2023 and endured torture for seven months. Similarly, Dr. Hussam Abu-Safiya, who refused to abandon his patients, has faced severe mistreatment in Israeli detention.
These frontline workers in Gaza are putting their lives on the line to honor their oaths to help those in need. The situation underscores a stark contrast between our healthcare environment in the U.S. and the extreme challenges faced by medical professionals in conflict zones.
As a member of the Maine chapter of Healthcare Workers for Palestine, I feel it’s crucial to raise awareness about these injustices. Rather than contribute to MaineHealth, I choose to support organizations that advocate for healthcare workers in Gaza and call for the release of detainees.
We must speak out against these injustices. If we don’t voice our concerns now, when will we? Silence can be seen as complicity, and we must advocate for those in desperate need.
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