Sustaining Access to Emergency Healthcare for Children in the West Bank

Since October 2023, communities in the West Bank have faced severe challenges in accessing emergency healthcare due to escalating violence, movement restrictions, financial instability, and other logistical barriers. Many health facilities in villages operate only a few days a week, often lacking essential medical supplies and medications. Simultaneously, these communities are frequently cut off from hospitals due to barriers and checkpoints, which can remain closed for extended periods. As a result, families are left uncertain about whether they can receive proper medical care in emergencies such as injuries, heart attacks, or complicated childbirth. Tragically, over the past 18 months, delays in care have had devastating consequences in multiple cases.

To enhance access to lifesaving emergency care for vulnerable communities, World Vision is supporting the establishment of six emergency stabilisation points in Primary Health Clinics (PHCs) across six governorates: Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, Nablus, Salfit, and Tubas. These stabilisation points, an initiative led by the Ministry of Health, are designed to provide immediate care in emergencies, particularly when movement restrictions prevent access to hospitals. They focus on the rapid assessment and management of emergency cases, ensuring patients are stabilised before being transferred to higher-level care facilities.

World Vision is equipping these six stabilisation points with essential medical equipment, including advanced trauma and emergency delivery kits. Additionally, the project provides training for healthcare staff, including nurses, midwives, and doctors, on how to effectively use the equipment and manage emergency cases. These six health centers serve nearly 64,000 people, and the project is set to run for 12 months. If additional funding becomes available, the initiative could expand to more villages. The Ministry of Health ultimately aims to establish six stabilisation points in each of the 14 governorates of the West Bank, creating emergency care hubs for communities affected by ongoing violence and road closures.

Since October 2023, World Vision has been implementing a comprehensive emergency response throughout the West Bank, focusing on protection, food security, mental health, access to healthcare, and safe education. Over the past 18 months, more than 480,000 people, including 110,000 children, have benefited from these humanitarian programmes. Additionally, 91 clinics serving 104,000 people have been rehabilitated or equipped, and 24 mobile ultrasound and obstetric care units have been provided to health facilities. These efforts are critical in ensuring that vulnerable communities receive the care they need amid ongoing challenges.