Health ,Gender and Human Rights in the OPT
Juzoor for Health and Social Development
December 2011 Salwa Najjab MD
OCCUPATION 60 years of
continuous war
40 years of Israeli military occupation
West Bank, Gaza have been under Israeli occupation since 1967.
Territorial fragmentation of the West Bank and complete isolation of the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem-since 2000
Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt)
Gates to villages
Juzoor For Health & Social Development واالجتماعي الصحي لإلنماء جذور
Checkpoint to Jerusalem
Since 2001, UNFPA recorded more than 70 cases of women in labor who were delayed at checkpoints which resulted in unattended births, causing maternal and newborn deaths
Birth and Death at Checkpoints
Land Confiscation
Over 100 Settlements-500,500 Settlers
Violation of international law
Daily violation of Human Rights and Dignity
Challenges in Palestine
Low status of women
Poverty
Poor quality
of care
Accessibility
restrictions
Deteriorating nutritional status
Unemployment
Funding
restrictions
Apartheid Wall
Factors impacting women's health
Selected Health Indicators in Palestine
Indicators (PCBS) West Bank Gaza Palestine
Population (2011) 2,580,167 1,588,791 4,168,858
Poverty 21 % 45.7% 65.8%
Total Fertility Rate 4.1 5.2 4.6Life expectancy - - M 70.5-F 73
Maternal Mortality rate per 100,000
- - 60 - 70
Proportion of children below the age of 15
41% 48%
Refugee 28% 68%
Early Marriage
1 Improving Maternal Health to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals in the Eastern Mediterranean Region : A Youth Lens.
One third of girls marry before age 18
6% become mothers
TWICE as likely to die while giving birth
Under 15 FIVE more times likely to die in childbirth1
Infant Mortality Rate
UNFPA assessment after the war 40% increase in
miscarriage cases
50% increase in neonatal deaths
Home births increased from 5% to 35%
Increase in c/s from 15% to 32%
Increase in premature delivery
Shifa hospital
Rapid Epidemiological Transition
Burden of NCDs greater on women
Early Pregnancy, Short Birth Intervals; unmet needs for FP;
Epidemic of Psychosocial Disorders;
Gender Based Violence
Morbidity among men and women
in their 50s
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Diabetes Hypertension Cardiac diseases
Pre
vale
nce
(%
)
Females
Males
Women are particularly vulnerable to the improper functioning of the
following public services
Challenges of the Health System
Fragmented and inconsistentMoH, UNRWA, NGOs and Private
Sector
High migration of skilled professionals
Biomedical approach to health
Women's Health services in Palestine
Limited training opportunities
Poor Skills of health providers
Lack of evidence based protocols
Continuous lowering of quality of care
Affects Women’s Health statusAffects Women’s Health status
No systematic inquiry process
Lack of supervision
Inadequate Health System
Health Care Providers
Health Policy Environment
•Weak role of professional bodies and regulatory frameworks.
•Incomplete and inadequate licensing and accreditation systems.
•Weak policy making and implementation.
Health Financing Dependency on donor aid
Weak budget planning and fiscal management systems
Lack of a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework
Low percentage of PNA budget spent on health
It is time to ask ourselves
What can we do to change?
-not-
What happened?
Juzoor for Health and Social Development
Palestinian NGO established in
1996 working at the national level
towards
“A Healthier Palestine, where all Palestinians
achieve the highest standard of well-being”
Juzoor’s Approach
Views Health from a rights perspective .
Adheres to principles of Equity.
Answers the Continuous Health Education needs
Looks at the emergency needs with a developmental perspective
Addresses social determinants of health
Juzoor Strategic Areas:
Empowering Communities…
Empowering Marginalized Groups
Enhancing Women & Youth’s health
economic security through social protection.
Continuous Professional Development
Mental Health in PHC
OB Cases
Workstations
West Bank
Gaza
ALSO cont.
Short Courses ALSO NRP PALS BLS ACLS Infection
Prevention and Control
Normal Childbirth
Impacting Health and Social Policy
Safety in women's health care
Thank You
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