Reducing Neonatal Mortality in Gaza - UNICEF 2018

July 2018 - Palestinians face a long-term humanitarian crisis with approximately 1 in 2 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza requiring some form of humanitarian assistance. The impacts on vulnerable Palestinians include limited access to safe water and sanitation persistent food and income insecurity and the risk of sexual and gender-based violence. With GAC’s support the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is helping to improve access to essential maternal and child healthcare services for high-risk pregnant and lactating women and children in Gaza. Project activities include: (1) procuring essential drugs and medical consumables; and (2) providing targeted post-natal home visiting services to high-risk pregnant lactating women and newborns who are unable to access services in hospitals due to the existing overload.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) procurement of essential drugs and medical consumables for over 78 850 pregnant and lactating women over 101 150 children under the age of five and over 10 050 newborns; and (2) provision of targeted post-natal home visiting services for over 900 high-risk pregnant and lactating mothers and their newborns that are unable to access services in hospitals due to an influx of injured persons that has put the local health system under greater strain. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.