Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Increasing health and resilience to COVID-19 and similar crises in Palestine, West Bank and Gaza

Pays : Palestine
Localisation : West Bank (North of Palestine in Tubas area, the South in Hebron) and Gaza, all districts

Dates : 01.02.2023 – 31.07.2024

Contexte
Palestinian health facilities lack adequate medical equipment and the capacity to respond to COVID-19 and other similar emergencies, particularly in Gaza, due to the long-standing restrictions in bringing in supplies. While the vaccine supply in Palestine has improved, the main barrier to vaccination now appears to be a lack of information on the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, especially among youth, women, residents of camps and villages, and those with poor internet access.

The pandemic and the economic distress from both political violence and COVID-19 have increased the risk of gender-based violence (GBV) for women and girls in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). Weak clinical management of rape services restrict supportive services. The survivor-centred approach is often breached through virginity testing embedded in the practice of forensic medicine, lack of confidentiality across service provision channels, survivor-blaming and mandatory reporting. There has also been a significant increase in psychological distress due to the pandemic and political turbulence. In 2022, over 621,000 people need mental health services in oPt and there is a need to support medical staff with relevant training.

Objectifs
1) Communities’ knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 and infectious diseases are improved (COVID-19, Influenza, other communicable diseases and prevention measures).
2) Capacities of health care providers to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 and other emergencies are strengthened.
3) Capacities of public health facilities are enhanced for improved infection contro

Activités
Establish Steering Committee * Conduct trainings for community leaders to become advocates for community health promotion and prevention behaviours * Conduct trainings for women’s association on health promotion and prevention for COVID-19 and other health problems, and on GBV detection and referral * Establish male groups and conduct training on raising awareness and engagement in GBV prevention * Conduct outreach and raising awareness activities for GBV prevention through community initiatives * Conduct awareness raising sessions for the elderly, people with disabilities, schools, journalism students, youth groups * Launch initiatives in targeted schools and youth groups to disseminate messages * Conduct national * campaigns through (online) media* Conduct trainings on Basic Emergency Preparedness, Advanced * Cardiovascular Life Support, and Fundamental Critical Care for health care providers * Conduct trainings on IPC and Communication Skills for Internal Medicine and community health workers * Conduct trainings on identifying and addressing mental health gaps for healthcare providers and social workers * Conduct trainings on gender-based violence detection and referral for healthcare providers * Conduct a rapid assessment to validate the urgently needed equipment/supplies * Procure identified equipment/supplies and distribute to the identified health facilities

Financement : Austrian Development Agency (with funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation)
Budget : 1,500,000 EUR

Fiche projet : CARE Autriche