Mission Palestinian Territories

The emergency continues in the Palestinian Territories despite the relative calm of 2005. Although the settlements have been dismantled and the Israeli army does not intend to penetrate inside the Gaza strip, it remains a hermetically sealed area, subject to considerable restrictions and air raids. In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority, which is bogged down in the difficult task of administration post-Arafat, is struggling to find solutions for healthcare and the fight against poverty, amongst other things, bearing in mind the Israeli security pressure and the impact of the construction of the separation wall on the people's access to healthcare.

Improving emergency treatment

Gaza Strip

Activities :

There are three parts to the programme:

• improving the civilian population's knowledge of first aid, and of how to treat emergencies before the emergency services arrive, in the Gaza strip between now and the end of 2006 (training trainers amongst 74 paramedics from the UNRWA health centres, 56 teachers, then training 1,200 school children in the UNRWA refugee camps, integration of BLS in the UNRWA school curriculum from the start of the 2005-2006 academic year;
• a programme to train Emergency Medical Technician (emergency ambulance EMTs) trainers in the two Palestinian Red Crescent Society training institutions in Gaza and Ramallah, and setting up a new initial and ongoing training programme;
• developing and setting up a reference “Plan for an influx of injured or sick patients” within the emergency department of Shiffa hospital (Gaza City).

Outlook :

MdM will continue all its activities in 2006.

Mental health

Nablus district in the West Bank

Activities :

Nablus district is the most strictly sealed off district of the Palestinian Territories. MdMis determined to improve the treatment of mental health problems there through:

• a campaign amongst the Palestinian people to remove the stigma of mental illness through booklets, posters, TV ads and radio programmes;
• mental health training for medical and paramedical staff in the primary healthcare centres and for mental health professionals;
• support for a “theatre in schools” activity, transferred to a local organisation;
• mental health seminars;
• activities in two literary cafés for men in Nablus town centre and Balata refugee camp;
• setting up a mobile mental health consultation service in eight villages in Nablus district, also providing awareness and training sessions for primary healthcare staff in the dispensaries involved.

Outlook :

MdM is going to continue the activities it was involved in in 2005, start three listening points (reception centres
with a therapeutic aim) and especially help to set up two medical and psychological community centres (one in Nablus and one in Jenin) in partnership with the Palestinian Health Ministry. Consultations will be taken over by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society..

Access to healthcare and the Wall

West Bank

Activities :

Since May 2004, MdM has been developing activities aimed at providing medical support to the people affected by the Wall and bearing witness to its impact on health:

• setting up an ambulance station in the Aizaria enclave, east of Jerusalem, in partnership with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society; training ambulance men;
• improving ante- and post-natal monitoring for women with at-risk pregnancies; treatment of under 5s in 10 villages around Jenin and Bethlehem;
• equipping a laboratory in Rantis village, in an enclave northeast of Ramallah

Outlook :

The Wall programme ended in April 2005.

August 2006