The UNRWA has reported that the health and dignity of Palestinian refugees are still in serious danger due to the economic crisis.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) released today its annual Health Report for 2018.
The report confirms that, despite facing unprecedented financial challenges in 2018 that endangered the provision of the Agency’s services to 5.4 million registered Palestine refugees, the provision of primary health care and the facilitation of hospital services across the five fields of operation in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continued uninterrupted.
UNRWA attributes this achievement to the remarkable commitment of health workers and the ongoing Health Reform Programme, as well as the generous contributions from host and donor governments, and in particular, its close partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these achievements and the continued health and well-being of the Palestine refugee community remain imperiled due to the Agency’s continuing financial crisis.
The report indicates that throughout 2018, core health services, such strong maternal and child health indictors, a near 100 percent vaccination coverage, early registration for preventive care and the percentage of pregnant women attending at least four antenatal case visits were maintained.
Moreover, during 2018, screening and outreach activities for non-communicable diseases were strengthened. All the data for 2018 remained static or improved compared to previous years, thus, continuing to provide quality universal health care, the goal of the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goal of health and well-being. UNRWA continued to maintain.
"During 2018, the HP faced a series of challenges. Above all was the unprecedented financial crisis that threatened our core primary health care services due to the shortage in funding. Moreover, the medical emergency in Gaza resulting from the Great March of Return demonstrations put increased pressure on the already overburdened health system; more than 4,000 injured people, most with gunshot wounds, visited our health centers," remarked Dr. Akihiro Seita, UNRWA Director of Health.
"Ongoing conflicts in Syria affected safe access to our health services in some areas. Procuring essential medicines with high quality was also a challenge. The overall situation was dire, but we never succumbed to the pressure."
ILKHA