April 14, 2010
Jericho City, West Bank – On Wednesday, April 14, 2010, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Health, together with other Palestinian Authority (PA) dignitaries, participated in a ground breaking event to announce the start of rehabilitation works at the Jericho Governmental Hospital. USAID Deputy Mission Director Ms. Sherry Carlin joined Minister of Health Dr. Fathi Abu Mughli, Chief Negotiator for the PLO Dr. Sa’eb Ereket, Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley Mr. Kamel Hmeid, Mayor of Jericho Mr. Hassan Saleh, and other Palestinian dignitaries as well as USAID and ANERA staff in the ground breaking ceremony.
The project for the rehabilitation of the Jericho Governmental Hospital is being implemented with funding amounting to $2.5 million provided by USAID, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health. The project is expected to be completed by February 2011.
As the main public health facility in the area, the hospital serves thousands of Palestinians residing in Jericho City and the Jordan Valley. Over the years, the hospital’s facilities and infrastructure have deteriorated and are currently in need of immediate rehabilitation. This project entails renovating the internal sewage collection system, the ventilation and air-conditioning system, the hot and cold water system, and other mechanical and electrical works. Furthermore, a new kidney dialysis department and medical staff lodging will be constructed. External works include the installation of a new sewage treatment unit for the hospital, in addition to landscaping work. Upon completion, approximately 60,000 residents of Jericho, the Jordan Valley and the surrounding communities are expected to benefit from this project and be able to receive adequate health services. The project is expected to create approximately 4,000 person-days of employment in an area where employment opportunities are scarce.
In addition to the rehabilitation of the Jericho Governmental Hospital, USAID is funding three other hospital renovation projects—the Rafidia Surgical Hospital, the Beit Jala Hospital and the Ramallah Government Hospital. These projects are being implemented by ANERA under USAID’s Emergency Water and Sanitation and Other Infrastructure (EWAS II) Program.
Since 1994, USAID has provided more than $2.9 billion in U.S. economic assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. USAID coordinates closely with the PA to support projects designed to reduce poverty, improve health and education, implement infrastructure and water projects, create jobs, and promote democracy and good governance. USAID’s EWAS II Program provides rapid response and emergency relief primarily in the water and sanitation sectors, in order to address the basic infrastructure needs of the Palestinian people.
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