WHO Director-General calls for urgent action to improve health conditions in Gaza, March 2018
19 March 2018, Gaza – World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today called for urgent action to improve health conditions in Gaza after concluding his first visit to the occupied Palestinian territory.
During his visit to Gaza, Dr Tedros witnessed the challenges that many people face in accessing quality health services. Chronic electricity shortages in Gaza are hindering the provision of life-saving medical services, and emergency fuel supplies are only enough to keep generators running for another few months. More than 40% of essential drugs are completely depleted in Gaza’s Central Drug Store, including drugs used in emergency departments and other critical units.
Access for patients requiring health care outside the Gaza Strip has also been declining: only 54% of patient applications to access services outside Gaza were accepted by Israeli authorities in 2017 compared to more than 90% of applications accepted in 2012. Approximately one third of these are for access to cancer treatment and diagnostic services lacking in Gaza. WHO and its partners are working with the Palestinian health ministry to address these issues.
Dr Tedros visited Shifa hospital, Gaza’s largest, to deliver essential lifesaving medical equipment procured as part of WHO’s emergencies programme. He also met with UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which is playing an essential role in providing primary care services for Palestinian refugees. Despite new funding of $100 million pledged at a ministerial conference in Rome on 15 March, UNRWA faces a critical funding shortage which may result in social services including primary health care being curtailed as soon as July.
“Despite the best efforts of health workers, many of whom have not been paid in months, Gaza’s health services are at breaking point,” Dr Tedros said. “Shortages of electricity, fuel and essential medicines are putting lives at risk. I call on all parties and partners to alleviate the suffering of many people.”
In separate meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and representatives from the Government of Israel, Dr Tedros emphasised the need to use health as a bridge to peace, and to respect, protect and fulfil the right to health for all, including for Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territory. Israeli representatives agreed to work with WHO to address the issues raised.
He raised concerns over access restrictions for vulnerable patients to exit Gaza for health care not available within the Gaza Strip and highlighted the need to address the humanitarian health needs in Gaza and to develop the capacities of the local health system, including, for example, by ensuring reliable energy infrastructure for hospitals and clinics.
In addition to addressing Gaza’s health challenges, Dr Tedros discussed how to strengthen the Palestinian health system and achieve universal health coverage. He visited the Palestinian National Institute of Public Health, which aims to strengthen the Palestinian health system, with technical support from WHO and funding from the Government of Norway.
WHO, the World Bank and the Palestinian Ministry of Health also agreed recently to establish a partnership to make progress towards universal health coverage by supporting work on health financing reform, health workforce planning, and to expand the family practice model of primary care. Work has already started to address critical gaps in cancer treatment.
A regular session of the international donor coordination group in support of the Palestinian economy, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), will convene on 20 March in Brussels. To help meet the most immediate challenges in Gaza, like the absence of drinking water, the EU will also host a pledging conference on the Gaza Central Desalination Plant to meet humanitarian needs and to contribute to the economic development of Gaza.
Note to editors
WHOs programme in the occupied Palestinian territory has offices in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza, with 59 staff. WHO works in partnership with the Ministry of Health, with programmatic priorities including health systems development to support universal health coverage, strengthening the core capacities for the International Health Regulations, management of noncommunicable diseases, health information and coordination, emergency preparedness and response, support to mental health, and advocacy for the right to health.
WHO Director General visit to oPt, Gaza, March 2018
Funding urgently needed to prevent collapse of Gaza health system, February 2018
22 February, 2018, Gaza Strip –WHO and health partners urgently require US$ 11.2 million to fill priority health needs for 1.27 million people in Gaza for three months. Of this amount, WHO requires US$2.4 million.
If funding is not urgently secured, 1,715 patients will immediately face a life threatening situation, including: 113 newborns 100 patients in intensive care units 702 patients requiring hemodialysis 200 patients in need of surgery 100 women in need of obstetric surgeries 500 patients in need of emergency care.
The occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) is affected by a protracted crisis and chronic humanitarian needs. There has been a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza which impacts millions of people and is life-threatening for vulnerable patients.
Limited electricity supplies and fuel for back-up generators is severely disrupting the delivery of basic services such as health, water, and waste management. The situation was further exacerbated in February 2018, when the health, water and sanitation services were on the brink of collapse from electricity shortages. Any disruption in the power supply will be immediately life-threatening for patients relying on electrical devices. In total, over 1.27 million people will be directly affected by the closure of health facilities.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has implemented strict contingency measures, including the temporary closure of three hospitals, Beit Hanoun Hospital, Durrah Hospital, Psychiatric Hospital, and partial closure of an additional 13 MoH primary healthcare clinics, immediately impacting over 300,000 people.
Hospitals in Gaza are already over-stretched, with a bed occupancy rate of more than 90%. These temporary closures further impact key services in the remaining 11 hospitals – including surgery, general medical wards and diagnostic services.
Supplies of drugs are severely diminishing. By the end of January, 40% of the essential drugs were depleted and 43% were at less than one month’s supply. The most critically affected patients are emergency patients, intensive care unit patients and those in need of lifesaving surgery.
Due to the electricity crisis in Gaza, water supply through the network reaches most homes for just 3-5 hours every day, and 96% of the water is not suitable for human consumption. As a result, there is an increased risk of waterborne diseases and outbreaks.
To fill priority health needs for the coming three months, health partners immediately require US$ 11.2 million, of which WHO requires US$ 2.4 million.
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WHO delivers life-saving medicines and supplies to Gaza, February 2018
15 February, 2018, Gaza Strip –The World Health Organization is delivering more than 5 tonnes of essential life-saving medical equipment and over 20 essential medicines and surgical supplies to Gaza’s hospitals today to meet the needs of over 300,000 patients.
With resources from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Humanitarian Pooled Fund, the delivery contains life-saving medical equipment that has stopped functioning as a result of the electricity crisis, and medicines to specifically meet the needs of acutely vulnerable patients that need emergency care. The delivery also contains various types of diagnostic tests and laboratory reagents to cover the urgent needs of central laboratories and blood banks.
“Together with key health partners, WHO is striving to prevent the collapse of Gaza’s health sector, but over 1.27 million people are still at risk and remain vulnerable if the health sector does not have the essential resources, such as electricity, drugs, and medical supplies to function” said Dr Gerald Rockenschaub, WHO’s Head of Office for the West Bank and Gaza.
Despite the restrictions, including the blockade, WHO continues to fill critical gaps in hospitals and health facilities. Earlier this week consolidated advocacy efforts by WHO, supported by UN-OCHA and the Humanitarian Coordinator, translated into securing funding for fuel for back-generators to help sustain the 14 public hospitals and 14 NGOs hospitals struggling to keep their doors open, while promoting sustainable strategic solutions to Gaza’s fuel crisis in the longer-term.
As the situation deteriorates, stocks of life-saving supplies are running dangerously low, laboratories are also struggling to procure the reagents and rapid tests that are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
More than 6,000 health workers have not received regular salary payments since July 2014 and 500 doctors have returned to work after 10 years of no clinical practice.
According to the 2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview, 1.2 million people in Gaza lack adequate access to health care. This presents a drastic increase of 45% from 2017.
WHO calls for sustainable solution to health sector power shortages in Gaza, February 2018
8 February, 2018, Gaza Strip – Gaza’s health sector was on the verge of collapse due to dwindling fuel supplies until the United Arab Emirates stepped in this week with a US$ 2 million grant to sustain hospital backup generators for critical health services. The donation will provide enough fuel to keep facilities running for several months.
“The UAE’s timely support will save lives, but a more sustainable solution is required to address the chronic fuel and power shortages in Gaza that leave health facilities consistently on the verge of closure,” says Dr. Gerald Rockenschaub, Head of WHO’s Office for West Bank and Gaza.
Daily power cuts of 12-16 hours currently affect 28 hospitals and 153 primary care facilities in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Health has been rationing fuel supplies since January, when UN supplies for backup generators in 14 public hospitals drastically declined.
Between late January and early February 2018, two hospitals were forced to shut down: Durrah Hospital serving a catchment area of 250 000 people, and Gaza Psychiatric Hospital, the only mental health hospital in Gaza. Beit Hanoun Hospital, a 63-bed hospital located in the northern Gaza Strip, was also partially closed, with the Emergency Department functioning at minimal capacity.
Public hospitals in the Gaza Strip provide life-saving health care for 1715 patients every day – including 113 newborns, 100 patients in intensive care units, 702 patients requiring haemodialysis, 200 patients in need of surgery, 100 women in need of obstetric surgeries, and 500 patients in need of emergency care.
Hospitals in Gaza are already over-stretched, with a bed occupancy rate of over 90%. With the closure of some hospitals, the extra burden placed on the remaining hospitals in operation will further strain the delivery of services, including surgery, emergency departments, intensive care units and maternity services.
“WHO is working with the Ministry of Health to establish longer-term strategic solutions to Gaza’s fuel crisis through the use of solar power, and establishing a dedicated and sustainable grid supply to support Gaza’s essential hospitals,” says Dr Mahmoud Daher, Head of WHO’s sub-office in Gaza.
Under-resourced public hospitals also face severe shortages in medicines and medical supplies. In January 2018, 40% of the essential drugs were completely depleted. This includes drugs used in emergency departments and other critical units. WHO is distributing over US$1 million worth of medical equipment and procuring over US$ 1.2 million worth of medicines and disposables, but these will only be sufficient to meet the critical patient needs in Gaza for less than 3 weeks.
More than 1.27 million people in the Gaza Strip are in need of critical life-saving health services in 2018. As part of the Humanitarian Response Plan for Gaza, US$ 3.12 million is required by WHO and health partners to ensure the continuity of life-saving health services this year.
Julianna Nassar
WHO Office for West Bank and Gaza
+ 972 54 717 9042