IBSA Fund Annual Report- STATE OF PALESTINE 4

Partners

Palestinian National Authority; Ministry of Health; UNDP/PAPP

Overview

This project rebuilt and enhanced access to public health infrastructure through the reconstruction of Atta Habib Medical Centre in the eastern Gaza City neighbourhood of Shujaia. Necessary equipment was supplied for the building to run the health-care clinic. The construction work undertaken included maternity and child wards as well as facilities for dental and lab services. Furniture and communication systems to enable the operation of those services were also provided. 

Key Achievements

• Around 30,000 patients annually were enabled to receive better health-care services through the rehabilitated 1,220 m2 four-storey building and medically equipped Atta Habib Medical Centre. Patients benefited from the new medical equipment in the maternity section, blood and biochemistry lab, and dental clinic. In addition, the furniture and communications system of the hospital were updated, a PV solar system was installed, and the road to the Atta Habib Medical Centre was rehabilitated.
• Health-care services were provided in the facility pharmacy, two chronic disease clinics, three vaccination clinics, two motherhood clinics, one dental clinic, one laboratory, two inspection rooms and three multipurpose halls.

Challenges

• Permission to transport construction materials into Gaza was obtained in April 2015. However, after the tender was awarded, the permission was suspended, which resulted in the delay in project implementation. Following efforts by UNDP and IBSA Ambassadors in Ramallah, permission for the entrance of construction materials was reactivated in November 2015.
• As the construction of the pile works for the roofing began, the Gaza Strip was hit by storms and heavy rains. Since the subsoil was clay, the contractor faced difficulties in resuming work, and it took two months to finish the foundation and retaining walls.

Link of the Project to National Priorities

This project provided a platform for the Government and partners in the relief and early recovery effort to advance the Gaza Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan 2014–2016.