Health situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip – WHO Health Action in Crises (WHO/HAC Highlights) – WHO press release (excerpts)

Health action in crises

Highlights No 141 – 15 to 21 Jan 2007

Each week, the World Health Organization Department for Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on the health aspects of selected humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices and the support provided by WHO regional offices and Headquarters. The mandate of the WHO Departments specifically concerned with Emergency and Humanitarian Action in Crises is to increase the effectiveness of the WHO contribution to crisis preparedness and response, transition and recovery. This note, which is not exhaustive, is designed for internal use and does not reflect any official position of the WHO Secretariat. 

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OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN
TERRITORY

Assessments and events:

• Factors hampering the delivery of health care and threatening the public health system are still present although a health crisis is being averted so far.

• The strike of the health workers has been suspended following an agreement between the parties, but salaries could remain an issue. The effects on people’s health and on the health system of almost four months of strike have still not been fully recognized, but they can only have been detrimental.

• Drug availability has slightly improved in the health facilities due to initial delivery of drugs procured through donor response.

• Electricity provision in Gaza has been partially restored. Yet, power cuts in the health services are still in place several hours a day. Fuel availability for generators continues to be guaranteed by the TIM (Temporary International Mechanism) provision.

Actions:

• WHO continues supporting the MoH for emergency response. Technical assistance ranges from nutrition, mental health, food safety maternal and child health to communicable and non-communicable diseases.

• WHO also leads information management focusing on health status and services delivery (workforce attendance, availability of medical supplies and health education programmes). The impact of the financial blockade on the health situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is monitored through two sets of essential health indicators at central, district and facility levels.

• In 2006, WHO’s emergency activities were funded by the Organization’s Regular Budget and contributions from ECHO, Finland, Japan and Norway as well as the CERF.

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