Holy Family Hospital

• Project Title:Partnership for Expanded Access to Quality Maternal and Neonatal Health Care for Palestinian Women and Infants (Cooperative Agreement # 294-A-00-05-00236-00).
• Recipient: Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem
• Total Budget: $4,055,000
• Project Dates: September 30, 2005 - September 30, 2010
• Project Purpose: To support the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem in providing quality maternal and child health services, especially for high-risk pregnancies and newborns, and expanding its current services in response to evolving community needs, promoting sustainability of the facility’s specialized care capacity, and enhancing the quality of existing maternal and neonatal services.
• Project Components and Planned Activities under Phase I:
  #1 – Expanded Access to Advanced Neonatal Health Care
  • equipment and furnishings for new neonatal intensive care unit
  • construction of and equipment/furnishings for an expanded nursery and day care facility
  #2 – Expanded Access to Gynecology Services
  • construction of and equipment/furnishings for an updated and expanded labor and delivery ward, maternal intensive care unit, and emergency department
  • expansion of Well Women Clinic services, including mobile unit outreach
  #3 – Expanded Access to Health Education Services for Families
  • design and implementation of new family education program to promote better maternal and newborn health
  #4 – Expanded Access to Training for Health Care Professionals
  • advanced clinical training in obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN), laparoscopy, midwifery, pediatrics, neonatology, and nursing through residencies/fellowships and Visiting Professor programs
  #5 – Expanded Support for Essential Equipment and Supplies
  • procurement of medical and surgical equipment, instruments, and supplies
  • updated computer system equipment for improved clinical and administrative management 

• Project Components and Planned Activities under Phase II:
  
  
#1 - Well Women Health Care Program / Outreach
• Well Women clinic
• Out-Reach Clinic
#2 – Health Care Professional Training
• advanced clinical training in obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN), laparoscopy, midwifery, pediatrics, neonatology, and nursing through residencies/fellowships and Visiting Professor programs       


• Progress to Date (as of December 9, 2008):
• $1.4 million of construction and renovations activities completed including delivery ward, intensive care unit, emergency room, well baby nursery, and autoclave unit.
• $1.3 million of medical equipment and hospital furnishings procured, including laparoscopy machine, autoclave, ultrasounds, blood bank refrigerator, operating table, delivery beds, transport intensive care incubator, neonatal respiratory and heart rate monitors among other equipment.
• Expansion of Well Women Program with a part-time Gynecologist who provides services through outpatient and outreach clinics in remote villages  
• Health Education consultant assisted Hospital to update and republish three patient education brochures related to care for mothers and newborns
• 1 staff doctor has completed a residency in obstetrics/gynecology
• 2 staff doctors are completing residencies in neonatology and another in OB/GYN
• 5 nurses have received one-year diplomas in midwifery
• 5 nurses have received one-year diplomas in neonatal nursing
• Hospital physicians have received short-term training in anesthesia, pediatrics, and OB/GYN
• In FY08, 190 doctors and nurses participated in Visiting Professor and Scientific Days programs to update their knowledge and skills

flagship Project

• Overview

  The Flagship Project is a five-year initiative funded by the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID), and designed in close collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH). The Project’s main objective is to support the MoH, select non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and select educational and professional institutions in strengthening their institutional capacities and performance to support a functional, democratic Palestinian health sector able to meet its priority public health needs. The project works to achieve this goal through three components: (1) supporting health sector reform and management, (2) strengthening clinical and community-based health, and (3) supporting procurement of health and humanitarian assistance commodities.

• KEY ACTIVITIES

  The Flagship Project will support the MoH to implement health sector reforms needed for quality, sustainability, and equity in the health sector. By addressing key issues in governance, health finance, human resources, health service delivery, pharmaceutical management, and health information systems, the Ministry will strengthen its dual role as a regulator and main health service provider. The Flagship Project will also focus on improving the health status of Palestinians in priority areas to the Ministry and public, including mother and child health, chronic diseases, injury prevention, safe hygiene and water use, and breast cancer screening for women. Specifically, the Project will engage in the following key activities:

•  Support the MoH in conducting a comprehensive health system assessment to identify priority areas for project support in governance, health finance, health service delivery, human resources, pharmaceutical management, and health information systems.
• Support the MoH in developing five-year institutional development plans to address priorities  identified during the assessment
• Strengthen MoH capacity to implement reforms to improve quality, sustainability, and equity in the Palestinian health sector
• Build NGO capacity to manage quality health services
• Support health institutions in delivering quality essential primary, secondary, emergency and rehabilitative care
• Strengthen capacity of institutions to promote healthier behaviors and provide effective outreach services
• Provide procurement support of essential commodities in health and humanitarian assistance