Attachments
Working Groups Updates
Health Service Delivery Working Group On-Going Activities
1. Medical Points and Primary Health Care Centers:
UNRWA provides primary health care in the Middle Area, Khan Younis, and Rafah:
-
8 health centers offer primary health care services: 1 in North Jabalia, 2 in Mawasi Khan Younis, 1 additional temporary HC (Zourob) started on March 13th, 2 in the Middle (Nuseirat HC and Dair Balah HC), 3 in Rafah (Rafah, Shaboura & Tal Sultan HC), 91 Medical Points cover Middle, Khan Younis, and Rafah, serving 1,775,049 persons.
-
75 medical points in 53 shelters, while 44 shelters remain without medical points due to insecurity (32 in Khan Younis & 12 in the Middle) intended to serve 27,555 IDPs.
2. Missions to Hospitals Across Gaza for Provision of Fuel, Medicine, and Medical Supplies: Efforts are ongoing to ensure the continuity of health services in hospitals throughout Gaza. Below are details of missions led by the WHO in collaboration with other cluster partners.
- On March 11th, 2024, a mission led by WHO to Al-Shifa and Al Helou Hospitals in Gaza City, in partnership with MSF France and UNMAS, delivered 24,050 litres of fuel, medicine, and medical supplies for 42,000 patients were prepositioned. Food parcels for patients were also provided.
- Mission to Al Aqsa Hospital on March 13th, 2024, WHO prepositioned medicine and medical supplies for 80,000 patients, assessed bed capacity, quality assurance, and evaluated hospital WASH capacity.
- WHO-led mission on March 16th, 2024, to European Gaza Hospital; prepositioned medicine and medical supplies for 80,000 patients, assess hospital situation in order to expand bed capacity, conduct quality assurance, and evaluate WASH capacity, with support from PAMA. The hospital has 22,000 internally displaced people seeking shelter and safety within the hospital premises.
- Missions to Kamal Adwan, Ahli, Al-Sahaba, and Al-Awda Hospitals delivered fuel, medicine, and medical supplies.
- WHO delivered PED-Sam Kit to Kamal Adwan, Abu Yousef alnajjar, IMC Field hospital and Medglobal tal-al sultan primary health care center
- WHO trained 18 health care workers on case management of acute malnutrition
- Partners support Kuwait Hospital's bed capacity expanded from 60 to 132 to accommodate more patients.
- UK-Med established a Medical point at the World Central Kitchen Welcome Center in Deir el-Balah for those fleeing from North Gaza and Gaza
- UNICEF distributed 50 incubators to European Gaza, and Aqsa Hospitals, with plans for Kamal Adwan Hospital.
- Restoration of health services in Nasser hospital is ongoing, on the 17th March WHO led a mission with UNRWA, UNMAS and UNOCHA, to provide 10,000 liters of fuel to Nasser hospital, rapid needs assessment of the hospital (WASH and health equipment) and safety concerns. Following the assessment, a health partner has been identified to support the hospital functionality, and deployment of a surgical and medical team is underway.
Challenges
- Hospitals in the north Gaza and Gaza face challenges due to recent military operations, in dire need of fuel, medical supplies, and specialized medical staff. Hospitals are operating with limited resources, facing electricity shortages, and witnessing an increase in trauma cases and malnutrition, highlighting the urgent need for continued support and assistance from all clusters/sectors.
- North Gaza and Gaza hospitals are experiencing fuel, food, medicine, and medical supplies shortages.
- There is no access to the northern governorate of Gaza, complicating healthcare provision.
- Continuous hostilities across Gaza strip pose significant barriers to accessing healthcare service points.
- The increase in Acute jaundice syndrome and bloody and watery diarrhoea can be directly attributed to the unavailability of safe drinking water, poor and lack of sanitation facilities, posing a significant public health challenge.
- The absence of segregated sanitation facilities and electricity within shelters presents a considerable safety risk, depriving women and girls of secure environments and thereby increasing their vulnerability to sexual violence.