• 13 Sep, 2024
• KIT Royal Tropical Institute

Uniting Resources, Knowledge and Solidarity - Gaza Health Initiative Conference Amsterdam 2024 - Conference report

Executive Summary

The Gaza Health Initiative (GHI) conference, held on September 13th, 2024, at the KIT Institute in Amsterdam, convened global health experts, humanitarian actors, policymakers, and local leaders to address the urgent need for rebuilding Gaza's devastated health sector. The conference focused on transitioning from theoretical frameworks to actionable strategies, organized around two distinct phases: Health Emergency and Transition and Rebuilding.

Health Emergency and Transition Phase

Key Challenges Identified:

The destruction of Gaza’s health infrastructure has severely impacted essential health services, with more than 40% of hospitals damaged, and 60% of essential commodities unavailable. Immediate intervention is required to address the acute shortages of medical supplies, personnel, and services, particularly in maternal and mental health. Healthcare workers operate under immense personal risks in unsafe environments, exacerbating the difficulty of delivering care. Logistical challenges further complicate the distribution of supplies and access to health services, leaving the population vulnerable to worsening health outcomes.

Identified priorities:

Strengthening Community Partnerships: The conference emphasized the importance of empowering local Palestinian organizations to lead on-the-ground interventions. International actors should support local entities by forming strategic partnerships that prioritize local leadership in coordination with the Ministry of Health.

Immediate Interventions: The creation of mobile medical units and the establishment of an emergency medical supply corridor are critical for maintaining the flow of essential healthcare services. Flexibility from donors and international partners is essential to redirect resources swiftly to meet urgent needs.

Protecting Healthcare Workers: Advocacy for the protection of health workers and healthcare facilities under international humanitarian law is crucial to ensure the safety of those delivering essential services.

Rebuilding Phase

Key Challenges Identified:

Transitioning from the emergency phase to long-term recovery requires a comprehensive strategy to rebuild Gaza’s healthcare system. The destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of healthcare professionals have weakened the system's capacity. Medical education has also been disrupted, with thousands of students unable to complete their studies. The absence of a centralized Health Information System (HIS) hampers efforts to track health outcomes and coordinate resource allocation effectively.

Identified priorities:

Building Back Better: The conference highlighted the need to rethink Gaza’s health system, with a focus on creating a resilient model that can adapt to future crises. This involves developing a comprehensive national health strategy that integrates emergency response, recovery, and long-term development.

Enhancing Networks and Coordination: Establishing stronger communication channels among local authorities, NGOs, and international organizations is essential for coordinated recovery efforts. A national body should act as a central coordinator, ensuring that all efforts are aligned with national priorities and streamlined to avoid duplication.

Leveraging Local Resources: Local expertise and knowledge are key to developing sustainable, effective solutions. Involving local youth, women, and marginalized groups in decision-making processes fosters greater ownership and accountability, ensuring that recovery efforts meet the real needs of the population.

Medical Education and Workforce Capacity: Long-term recovery must prioritize the rebuilding of medical education and workforce capacity. International partnerships, online education programs, remote clinical placements and rebuilding of the academic infrastructure are critical for supporting displaced students and strengthening the healthcare workforce in Gaza.

Conclusion

The GHI conference aligned global and local partners in collective, coordinated efforts towards the recovery and rebuilding of Gaza’s health system. By aligning immediate emergency response efforts with long-term recovery strategies, and empowering local actors to lead these efforts, the conference provided a clear roadmap for transforming Gaza’s health system into a resilient, sustainable model. Achieving this vision will require continued global solidarity, strong partnerships, and unwavering commitment to ensuring access to essential healthcare for the people of Gaza.

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