Palestinian Medical Relief Society - PMRS-PMRS services offered to a million and a half million people per year

The Palestinian Medical Relief Society supports the steadfastness of the citizens living in the areas near the Separation Wall, settlements and marginalized areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Medical Relief Society reports that the overall number of citizens who benefited from their services are over one million and a half, including 4,000 people who received humanitarian assistance and medical aid. PMRS’ services are primarily targeted in the threatened areas, particularly in Jerusalem and its surrounding villages, the Jordan Valley, and Area C.

The Palestinian Medical Relief Society maintains a fruitful cooperation with the Ministries of Health and Education in order to provide efficient health care for the Palestinian population.

There have been remarkable successes that PMRS attained in the provision of health care for the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories with the main goal of providing quality health care for all. PMRS has 24 health centers in the West Bank and Gaza in which services are provided to three hundred and 24,000 citizens. In addition to this, rehabilitation centers and school health services are offered in more than 600 schools in the West Bank including Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

A million and half educational bulletins were distributed over the past year. In addition to this, a number of health education films were produced and have been circulating widely.

The Palestinian Medical Relief Society stated that it has been offering mobile clinic services throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the poor and isolated areas of the Separation Wall and settlements. Over 200,000 citizens from 171 areas benefited from these mobile clinic services.

PMRS Medical Teams and the attribution for the steadfastness of the citizens

As indicated by PMRS, the Women's Health Program provided treatment to a 160,000 women and girls. The First Aid training benefited 120 teams annually. They were taught the principles of first aid and rescue techniques. The number of beneficiaries who received first aid training reached 60,000 people. These first aid teams provided services and treatment to those wounded during the confrontations near the Separation Wall near Silwan, Jerusalem, Bilin, Nilin and other areas. PMRS’ services and ambulances served and were available during these non-violent protests and represents PMRS’ role during the Israeli incursions that would take place constantly.

PMRS stressed the importance of the role of PMRS volunteers in Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan at the checkpoints and in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In addition to this, the community based rehabilitation program was a successful program that facilitated in integrating people with disabilities in schools and workplaces. Many activities were implemented in cooperation with the Farah Center in Nablus and the PMRS Mental Health Program.

Emergency Response Program

School of Community Health graduated 60 community health workers

PMRS confirmed that the School of Community Health graduated 60 community health workers who received comprehensive training in primary health care for a period of two years.

The significant administrative development that was attained was done through pursuing ways to raise the level and quality of work, effective evaluation system and internal control system .

PMRS activities with the Coordinating Committees of the National Health Sector

It also noted that PMRS representatives are affiliated in numerous coordinating committees of the national health sector as well as in a network of NGOs. They are also a part of the International Relief Agency, health institutions and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

PMRS’ tremendous efforts and dedication in promoting health awareness and the raising of knowledge at the international level, including exposing the suffering of the Palestinian people from the effects of occupation on the health and humanitarian situation. PMRS also maintains effective cooperation with dozens of international organizations in order to mobilize pressure and advocacy for the Palestinian people and their just cause.

PMRS confirmed the importance of the tremendous amount of work provided by the largest emergency program in history after the war on Gaza. The program was characterized by its flexibility, efficiency and speed of response to the needs. The PMRS medical team from the West Bank was the first delegation to arrive immediately after the war erupted.

PMRS stated that it provided assistance in the first month after the war for more than 25,000 citizens. Mobile clinics were organized in the areas of destruction in which 42,000 citizens benefited. PMRS contributed in securing hundreds of wheelchairs and aid for the wounded. In addition to this, PMRS assisted in transferring hundreds of injured in order to receive treatment and referral. There was also assistance in allowing the Jordanian field hospital offer services. The Emergency Response Program set up four mobile teams that provided comprehensive care for patients, including medical care, physical therapy, mental health and community services.

The Mental Health Program provided services to more than 40,000 people. In addition to this, PMRS provides specialized programs such as providing services to treat skin disease and others in order to meet the needs of the Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

PMRS’ extraordinary work in the Chronic Disease Program is one that serves as a health model that should be implemented. The PMRS Chronic Disease Program offers services and treatment to help the prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, and heart disease. This program is implemented in both Ramallah and Gaza.