No Access, No Medicine: PHR-Israel's Mobile Clinic in West Bank

international | anti-war / imperialism | press release Wednesday September 10, 2003 12:15 by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel shabtai at phr dot org dot il

Both Jabel Juhar and 'Asira ash-Shamaliya are located not far from medical institutions and hospitals. If not for the restrictions on freedom of movement the residents would not require the services of the Mobile Clinic. It is obvious that as long as the internal closure continues there can be no proper health system.

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel


UPDATE


9 September 2003


No Access, No Medicine



On Saturday, 6 September 2003, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel held two On-Site Mobile Clinics in the West Bank; one was held in the Jabel Juhar section of Hebron, in the south of the West Bank, and the other in 'Asira ash-Shamaliya, near Nablus, in the north. Over 50 volunteers from PHR-Israel, together with staff, participated in the clinics and examined some some 830 patients.



PHR-Israel has been coordinating Mobile Clinics in the Occupied Territories since 1988. Since September 2000 PHR-Israel has increased its activities, and now conducts a Mobile Clinic on an almost weekly basis. Occasionally, as was the case this past Saturday, two clinics are held simultaneously. The Mobile Clinics provide Palestinian and Israeli medical teams the opportunity to join forces and work in conjunction, offers Arab-Jewish cooperation, and allows the PHR-Israel team to offer signs of solidarity with the occupied Palestinian population. Every Mobile Clinic is coordinated with local Palestinian NGOs, and Palestinian medical teams always participate.



Jabel Juhar, Hebron

The north end of Jabel Juhar- a neighborhood in Hebron- borders with the Israeli settlement Qiryat Arba'. In addition, at the top of the neighborhood there is an Israeli military base. Even if the army allows the residents to leave the section, they have no direct path, due to the army's restrictions on freedom of movement, to the center of Hebron, which is were the hospitals reside. Thus, they are forced to take elongated routes in order to reach the hospitals.



The team of PHR-Israel volunteers together with members of Al-Mahawer Society in Hebron and the Palestinian Medical Relief (UPMRC) treated approximately 430 patients, who were seen by family physicians, eye-doctors, orthopedists, a neurologist, or pediatricians. Also, mental health workers participated in the clinic, and met with SOS- a mental health NGO- in order to discuss future joint programs and projects. Additionally, medicines and baby formula were distributed to those who required. Al-Mahawer hosted the team in their clinic. Some cases seen by the team were of serious nature and PHR-Israel will be offering follow up treatment to several of these people.



'Asira ash-Shamaliya, Nablus Region

There is no direct road between the village 'Asira ash-Shamaliya and the closest major city, Nablus, due to violations of freedom of movement by the Israeli army. Residents of the village are therefore forced to make their way through the mountains to the city, which increases traveling time by approximately two and a half hours.



A team of 25 PHR-Israel staff and volunteers treated approximately 400 patients. This clinic was held in cooperation with the UPMRC and the local village council. 16 patients from the village seen on Saturday are set to receive follow-up treatment by PHR-Israel, due to the nature of their illnesses. Doctors with various specialties, including pediatrics, orthopedics, child neurology, general surgery, and family medicine, along with a mental health professional, participated. Medicines were distributed to those who required, as was baby formula.





Both Jabel Juhar and 'Asira ash-Shamaliya are located not far from medical institutions and hospitals. If not for the restrictions on freedom of movement the residents would not require the services of the Mobile Clinic.



It is obvious that as long as the internal closure continues there can be no proper health system.



Picture from the Mobile Clinic in Jabel Juhar can be view here (scroll down):

http://www.phr.org.il/Phr/Pages/PhrArticle_Unit.asp?Cat=11&art=610&Pcat=6





For more information regarding freedom of movement in the Occupied Territories please see:

http://www.phr.org.il/Phr/Pages/PhrArticle_Unit.asp?Cat=150&Pcat=4



To learn more about the mobile clinic, please visit its respective page on PHR-Israel's website:

http://www.phr.org.il/Phr/Pages/PhrArticle_Unit.asp?Cat=14&art=165&Pcat=4





For more information about the clinic, information on how to volunteer or to inquire regarding joining a Mobile Clinic, please contact: Salah Haj Yihye, Fieldwork Coordinator- +972-67-591097; Ibrahim Habib, Intervention Coordinator- +972-67-577696; Miri Weingarten, Intervention Coordinator- +972-67-700-477; Shabtai Gold, Public Outreach - shabtai@phr.org.il.





Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHR–Israel) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization founded in 1988 and currently comprising some 800 members, with the aim of striving to promote medical human rights in Israel and in the territories under Israel’s effective control. The basic values of PHR–Israel are human dignity, protection of bodily and mental integrity, and promotion of the right to health and medical care.

Tel: 972 3 6873718

Fax: 972 3 687 3029

E-mail: mail@phr.org.il

www.phr.org.il