October 20, 2009
Bethlehem, West Bank – The Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem dedicated state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment provided through USAID’s Palestinian Health Sector Reform and Development Project (Flagship Project) at an event held today (Tuesday). Participants at the event included USAID Deputy Mission Director for the West Bank and Gaza Sherry Carlin, representatives from the Minister of Health, the Director of Administration of Holy Family Hospital Dr. Robert Tabash, the Medical Director of Holy Family Hospital Dr. Jaque Keutgen, and the Chief of Party of the Flagship Project Dr. Taroub Harb Faramand.
Following the donation of a new mammography machine, the Holy Family Hospital will be able to restart its breast cancer detection services. The Holy Family Hospital is one of only two hospitals in the southern West Bank that provide mammography scans for women.
The mobile x-ray unit also donated through USAID’s Flagship Project will enable the hospital to monitor high-risk newborns. Approximately 13% of the babies born at the Holy Family Hospital are admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the only such unit in the southern West Bank.
This equipment is being provided as part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Flagship Project’s support for the development and reform of health services in the West Bank. In addition to providing state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to strengthen the Holy Family Hospital’s health services for women and newborns, the Flagship Project is strengthening the capacity of the hospital to better utilize and maintain its medical equipment.
USAID partners with the Ministry of Health in a comprehensive, integrated and multi-sectoral approach to health sector reform and quality improvement. The Flagship Project works with all levels and parts of the health sector—with the Ministry of Health and NGO health service providers. The USAID-funded donation of the mammography machine will be accompanied by the donation of similar mammography machines to the Ministry of Health in the Jericho and Qalqilia directorates in order to promote the early detection and prevention of breast cancer amongst Palestinian women.
The Flagship Project is a five-year, $86 million, health sector reform project which supports the Palestinian health sector in increasing the quality of health services at hospitals and clinics—including emergency and rehabilitation services—and in improving good governance and management practices of health institutions. The Flagship Project supports the MoH, NGO health sector, and communities promote healthier and safer behaviors within families and communities, including prevention of chronic diseases and injury, and promotion of maternal and child health care, water and sanitation, and women’s health. In addition, the Project provides essential medical equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals in support of MoH and NGO health facility needs. Through these initiatives, the Flagship Project is supporting the long-term development and sustainability of quality health care services that meets the Palestinian public’s needs.
Since 1994, USAID has provided more than $2.9 billion in U.S. economic assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza via projects designed to reduce poverty, improve health and education, build infrastructure, create jobs, and promote democracy and good governance.
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