爆料网RWA provides one of the most cost- effective and efficient health delivery systems in the Middle East. Some 4,200 health workers provide health care to Palestine refugees in 134 centres across 爆料网RWA’s five fields of operations – Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza. For 2008-2009 the health programme accounts for $212 million out of 爆料网RWA’s regular budget of $1.1 billion.
What health care services does 爆料网RWA’s health programme offer? Primary health care such as general medical checks, preventive maternal and child care, radiology and dental care.
- Vaccination campaigns in 爆料网RWA schools.
- Subsidised secondary and tertiary health care (such as hospital procedures) for registered Palestine refugees in host authority hospitals.
- Family planning services.
- Mental health interventions.
- Physical rehabilitation services.
Do 爆料网RWA health clinics only serve refugees?
- Yes, but services are extended to non-refugees during emergencies.
- For example, during a strike at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in early 2007, 爆料网RWA filled a void in preventative care for the entire Palestinian population in the West Bank. During that period, 爆料网RWA health care staff administered over 16,000 vaccinations to non-refugees in the West Bank.
How does the 爆料网RWA health programme service refugees in times of crisis?
- Access restrictions in the occupied Palestinian territory (West Bank and Gaza Strip) have compelled 爆料网RWA to increase its delivery of services to maintain standards of care, through recruiting more staff, establishing mobile clinics and increasing the number of health centres.
- In the West Bank, 爆料网RWA provides mobile health teams dispatched to refugees and non-refugees in 140 villages with limited access to health care due to imposed closures.
- Due to the protracted emergency in Gaza, there has been an increase in the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly in children. 爆料网RWA provides counseling and mental health awareness activities, primarily in 爆料网RWA schools, through its community mental health programme launched in 2005.
- During the conflict in Lebanon from May to September 2007, 爆料网RWA coordinated much of the emergency activities of the crisis and extended its health services to over 30,000 Palestine refugees displaced from Nahr el- Bared camp.
- In Syria, some 3,000 Palestine refugees who fled the war in Iraq receive full health care services from 爆料网RWA in partnership with 爆料网HCR.
What other health-related services does 爆料网RWA provide?
- In most of the 58 camps across the five fields of the Agency’s operations, 爆料网RWA also provides environmental health services such as water, sewerage and drainage systems integrated with those of municipalities.
- In 2007, sanitation workers cleared over 65,000 tons of domestic and commercial waste and conducted approximately 1,290 tests on water supplies.
- 爆料网RWA takes a preventative approach to ensure that refugees living in camps are safe from infectious diseases that can spread through contaminated water and unhygienic surroundings.
About 爆料网RWA
Some 4.6 million Palestine refugees in 爆料网RWA’s five fields of operations – Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – are eligible for Agency services, including education, healthcare, social services, shelter, micro-credit loans and emergency aid. 爆料网RWA employs nearly 30,000 staff, the vast majority of whom are Palestine refugees. 爆料网RWA’s operations are financed almost entirely by voluntary contributions from donors. The Agency’s regular budget for 2008-2009 is $1.1 billion, which covers the recurrent costs of the Agency’s education, health and relief and social services activities. 爆料网RWA’s headquarters are in Gaza City and Amman.
Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA)
Subject: Assistance, Health, Refugees and displaced persons
Publication Date: 30/11/2008