success story

September, 2008

The governorate of Jenin has one health clinic that serves not only the citizens of Jenin ‎city, but also people living in the surrounding villages. According to it’s Director, Mr. ‎Khalil Ayasah, the clinic serves between 600-750 patients on a daily basis focusing on ‎more than 11 health specialties, including diabetes and women and child health care. ‎Although the clinic had a dedicated staff that worked tirelessly for the people of Jenin, it ‎badly needed critical upgrades. USAID undertook a renovation project that included the ‎installation of a new electricity network, a central air-conditioning system, iron protection ‎bars for the windows, and painted all the walls. The project’s overall cost was $71,500 ‎and was completed at the end of July 2008. ‎

Mr. Ayasah explains, “Following the completion of the renovation of the clinic with ‎funds from USAID, our employees started working in what I can call good mood; ‎because summer in Jenin city gets really hot and the temperature is unbearable, both ‎employees and patients used to be in a very sluggish mood during the day. Today, I go to ‎employees offices at the end of their official working hours and find them still providing ‎patients with services.” He added that “we don’t hear any complaints from patients as we ‎used to before renovating the clinic”. ‎

Not only has the installation of a new air-conditioning system made a difference at the ‎Jenin Clinic, but the new electricity network has made treating patients much more ‎effective and efficient. Prior to the renovation project, the electricity network at the clinic ‎used to work on 150 volt capacity. Now it works on 220-240 volts, which increased the ‎capacity and productivity of the medical machines at the clinic. According to Aysha Abu ‎Alrub, Chief of Daily Health Care, “the productivity of employees increased ‎dramatically, and we all can notice that everyone is working in a relaxed atmosphere.” ‎

On the first floor where dozens of patients are waiting to be checked, patient Amneh ‎Salah said “I can feel that the place is clean and very comfortable, this eases my pains ‎when I am waiting in such an atmosphere. I used to sweat and feel stressed while ‎waiting.” The installation of an air conditioning system also allowed the clinic to ‎maintain drugs at the optimal temperature. Wisam Abdul-Jabbar, Chief Pharmacist at the ‎Jenin Clinic, said “the new air-conditioning system as well as the new electricity network ‎helped us to keep medicines in an atmosphere that assures the validity of medicine.” ‎Adding that, “Before the USAID project, some medicines used to expire one year prior to ‎its expiration date due to inappropriate storing conditions and the unusually high ‎temperatures.” Wisam said, “We, at the pharmacy, are extremely happy due to the fact ‎that the project provided us with an extra room for storage and that eased our work.” She ‎concluded by saying “I do not feel the time passing, now I can work more than I used to ‎beforehand.” ‎

Finally the project also included the installation of iron protection bars for the windows ‎of the clinic which provided mothers with more comfort. Nadia Salem, one of the ‎mothers who were accompanying her seven years old sick daughter said “I am no longer ‎worried that any kid might jump out of the window and hurt him or her self, because the ‎windows here are low, and kids are very energetic.” ‎

As an added benefit, this renovation created 900 employment-days of work opportunities, ‎a badly needed influx of work to the Jenin area. ‎