Hebron

Mental Health

Since 1996, MSF has been providing psychological care to mothers with children who are suffering from malnutrition. Malnutrition among Palestinian children is often linked, not to a lack of food, but to a weakened emotional link between mothers and their children - one result of the difficulty and stress in the mothers' daily lives.

MSF psychologists have also been training local health professionals in caring for mothers and their children and plans to transfer the project to this local group by the end of 2000.

Rehabilitation for Palestinian ex-detaineees

In March 1997, MSF began providing psychological care to Palestinian ex-detainees suffering from their incarceration and ill-treatment while detained in Israeli prisons. MSF plans to transfer the project to local health professionals by the end of 2000. A plan to launch a psychological support project for mother and children in Gaza has been temporarily postponed.

Rehabilitation of clinics 

In February 1998, MSF began a project in Hebron health district to rehabilitate clinics, improve the health information system and train community health workers. In response to a measles outbreak in May 1999, the organisation offered logistical and technical support to the Hebron and Ramallah health authorities. Jerusalem, Nablus, Hebron and Ramallah

Emergency medical support

In October 2000, MSF sent three tonnes of emergency medical supplies in response to specific demands from care centres in Jerusalem, Naplouse, Hebron and Ramallah. MSF employees are currently evaluating the situation and organising the distribution of medical material.