Pillar 1: Enhance the preparedness of the health system for COVID-19 while also ensuring the continuity of essential healthcare provision

A graduate of English Language joined the digital marketing training conducted by UNDP through its dignified jobs programme in Gaza. © UNDP/PAPP - Shareef Sarhan

As part of the UN’s wider response to support the GoP in enhancing the preparedness of the Palestinian healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 during and post-pandemic, UNDP is coordinating with the Ministry of Health and other relevant line Ministries, UN agencies, and civil society actors to re-programme its interventions to fill immediate gaps in the government’s health response.

1. Increasing the number of healthcare staff to ensure COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related healthcare services are provided, through re-programming and expanding cash for work and dignified job creation projects in Gaza. UNDP is deploying over 700 health workers including doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and others such as cleaners to health facilities. Investment is needed to fill the gaps related to healthcare and expand support in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

2. Supporting the health and environment departments at municipalities with the sterilisation and disinfection of public facilities and markets, by deploying over 330 workers in Gaza.

3. Improving healthcare waste management by working with the Ministry of Health and Joint Service Council for Solid Waste to install much needed medical waste treatment devices in the Gaza Strip to reduce the further spread of diseases. UNDP is also strengthening the institutional and operational setup for solid waste management (including medical waste) in Gaza. UNDP has assisted in the training of 3,200 Ministry of Health personnel, including doctors, nurses, medical laboratory specialists and cleaners, on medical waste management. UNDP’s support in the West Bank includes installing treatment facility (Autoclaving and shredding equipment) and medical waste containers for six hospitals in main five districts and training of health care workers and service providers on how to safely handle health care waste.