Palestinian National Diabetes Program Booklet
Ramallah, Palestine, June 2023 – The partners of the Palestine National Diabetes Program (PNDP) take immense pride in launching the booklet ‘The Power of Partnerships: Reflection on the 20-year Journey Fighting Diabetes in Palestine’.
The booklet serves as a testament to a unique experience of cooperation between the Ministry of Health as the leader of PNDP, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), DanChurchAid (DCA), the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH), and Juzoor for Health and Social Development in developing an integrated national response to the challenges of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in humanitarian settings.
This multi-sectoral engagement has succeeded in making the Program sustainable, as a culmination of the successful local projects funded by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) in Palestine over the past 20 years.
‘This booklet offers valuable insights into the impact of partnerships within a country and between local and international organisations’, said the Minister of Health Dr Mai Al Kileh. ‘This publication serves as a valuable resource for those interested in building robust and sustainable responses to the challenges of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa region, and other humanitarian settings.’
The booklet is launched ahead of the World Refugee Week 2023 (19–25 June) to highlight the challenges and achievements of a two-decade partnership between local and international organisations sharing the same belief: improving diabetes care and prevention for vulnerable communities in a protracted refugee situation is a shared social responsibility.
‘Juzoor has worked diligently to establish partnerships with esteemed private sector actors including the Bank of Palestine, and welcoming new allies like Lions Club International’, said Dr Umaiyeh Khammash, General Director of the Palestinian NGO Juzoor. ‘These collaborations enabled us to expand our reach, leverage diverse expertise, and create a powerful force in the fight against diabetes; we are paving the way for a healthier future.’
‘This booklet represents a story worth telling, about years of hard work, commitment, and true spirit of collaboration to serve the diabetes agenda in Palestine’ added Jakob Sloth Madsen, Senior Humanitarian Programme Manager at WDF. ‘We are very proud of our partners’ ability to reflect this journey, which also showcases our expanding work in ensuring that national programs include refugees and those most in need in humanitarian crises.’
The PNDP's efforts and positive outcomes garnered significant recognition. By sharing the experiences and lessons learned and the vital role of a multi-stakeholder platform, it serves as a model for future programs within regions facing similar challenges.
For more information on the PNDP and to access the booklet, please visit www.juzoor.org.
About WDF
The World Diabetes Foundation is a leading global funder of diabetes prevention and care projects in low- and middle-income countries. WDF’s vision is to alleviate human suffering related to diabetes among those in greatest need, through sustainable and scalable approaches. Over the past two decades, WDF has supported over 40 projects in more than 15 countries to address diabetes and other NCDs in humanitarian crisis settings.
About Juzoor
Juzoor for Health and Social Development is a Palestinian non-governmental organization working at the national level, dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Palestinian families and promoting health as a basic human right.
Juzoor was founded in 1996 by a team of health and development professionals. The organization was named Juzoor (“roots” in Arabic) to reflect the organization’s focus on the underlying socioeconomic determinants of health and wellness, to reinforce the commitment that Juzoor has made to continuing its work in Palestinian communities despite the difficult and challenging political situation, and to reflect the founders’ experience in their related fields and in establishing some of the most important grassroots health organizations in Palestine.
Juzoor tackles critical emerging public health issues, connecting prevention and intervention for the individual to the level of the whole population by addressing the social determinants of health.
