Medical Aid for Palestinians
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) is a British charity that offers medical services in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon and, advocates for the universal right to health.[1]
Contents
Aim and history
Its stated aim is to meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. Support for the organization originates from the British public, British Government, European Union and international aid organisations. It is run by a board of trustees headed by Mr Robin Kealy CMG – a former career diplomat, who was HM Ambassador in Tunis from 2002-2004 and Consul General in Jerusalem from 1997-2001. Its president is Baroness Morris of Bolton who succeeded Lord Patten of Barnes and Helena Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws.
Medical Aid for Palestinians was founded in 1984 by Major Derek Cooper and his wife, Mrs Pamela Cooper,[2] in the wake of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon. Dr Swee Chai Ang FRCS is also a founding Trustee.[3] They deliver basic health and medical care to Palestinian refugees and they strive to establish a permanent medical infrastructure in Palestinian communities by training health care practitioners, teaching medical vocational skills and addressing the requirements of particularly vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities.
Medical Aid for Palestinians offers practical medical support to Palestinians and other victims of conflict and displacement by working with local non-governmental organisations and the Palestinian Health Service on the following priority areas in the West Bank and Gaza strip:
- Provide health care in isolated rural communities of the West Bank;
- Improve nutrition among refugees in Gaza;
- Contribute to psycho-social support efforts for women and children affected by the conflict;
- Assist people with congenital disabilities and disabilities due to injury.
In the Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon, Medical Aid for Palestinians works on the following areas:
- Improve environmental health;
- Support primary health care;
- Build capacity to improve income generation;
- Assist people with congenital disabilities and disabilities due to injury.
Projects
The Gaza Strip
MAP is investing over £860,000 in seven projects across the strip. Five are addressing ‘significant gaps in service provision’ (SGSP), one is focusing on ‘community-based health development’ (CBHD) and one is providing ‘emergency relief’ (ER).
The projects include improving the environmental health conditions in Al Zarqa, where alongside ‘Palestine Save the Children Foundation’ (PSCF) MAP is providing mains sewage connections, road paving, health and hygiene education. Work promised by the PA but never fulfilled.
MAP is also working with local partners on health and hygiene in Al Zawaydeh, improving the nutritional status of marginalized children around Khan Younis and providing psychosocial support for Gazan children, parents and teachers.
The West Bank
There are six MAP active projects in the West Bank with five focused on CBHD and one on SGSP.
MAP is working with the Palestinians Medical Relief Society (PMRS) in training community health workers. In Yatta town and the surrounding villages MAP is partnering the ‘Ard El Atfal’ NGO in providing prenatal and postnatal care. MAP and the ‘Mothers’ School Society’ are funding a school programme in the Nablus district, while also contributing to the emergency health services of three villages west of Ramallah in partnership with the ‘Health Work Committees’.
MAP has invested over £263,000 on these projects to date.
Jerusalem
MAP, in partnership with the Church of the Redeemer, has invested over £18,500 in continuing to provide healthcare support to the elderly in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Lebanon
MAP is investing over £300,000 in 16 active projects in Lebanon.
In the aftermath of the destruction of Nahr El Bared camp MAP is working with ‘Nabaa – Development Action Without Border’ in post conflict evaluation.
Meanwhile in Bourj al Barajneh and Tyre-area refugee camps, MAP and the Women’s Health Organisation are running a project developing a health visitor programme for community nurses. MAP is also working with the Lebanese Red Cross in training paramedics in Sidon and the Bekaa, while running an awareness campaign on dental health in Beirut and throughout the south of the country.
Longer-term projects are focusing on business development services for women in Beirut, developing grass roots civil sector organisations throughout the country and providing start up grants for small businesses in Southern Lebanon, which is still recovering from the effects of the 2006 war.
Britain
The British office is responsible for fund raising and advocacy work. MAP plays an active role in the UK raising awareness about violations of the Palestinian right to health, which is threatened by ongoing conflict, prolonged occupation and displacement. Working in coalition with other NGOs, the scope of MAP's advocacy programme ranges from raising public awareness to advocating on salient issues with governments and policy makers. [4] The organization has drawn attention as the beneficiary of Caryl Churchill's playlet Seven Jewish Children.[5][6]
References
- ↑ "MAP's London HQ is responsible for fundraising and directing the regional teams work. It also is where MAP's events and advocacy work takes place." [1] accessed May 27, 2009
- ↑ http://www.asiamap.ac.uk/collections/collection.php?ID=259
- ↑ MAP > About Us > Trustees and Patrons
- ↑ http://www.map.org/regions/uk/media/
- ↑ Readings and Talks for Pro-Gaza Playlet, PATRICK HEALY, March 15, 2009, New York Times [2]
- ↑ "MAP's London HQ is responsible for fundraising and directing the regional teams work. It also is where MAP's events and advocacy work takes place." [3] accessed May 27, 2009
