Health,Gender and Human Rights in the OPT Juzoor for Health and Social Development December 2011 Salwa Najjab MD.

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