Germany and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held ceremonies to mark their support to St. Joseph Hospital and Princess Basma Centre in response to urgent health needs, today said a press release issued by the Representative Office of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ramallah.

The support is part of the Employment Generation Program (EGP) that is implementing labor-intense rehabilitation of social infrastructure.

The rehabilitation department supported at the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre provides inpatient and outpatient day-care services to children with disabilities coming from across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

The support provided by Germany will improve access to quality rehabilitation services to over 1,400 children with disabilities annually.

The project included new therapy rooms, physical support, and assessment rooms that will be used for individual and group therapy sessions. Renovation works also included the rehabilitation of the mothers’ department including the reception and entrance areas as well as eight sanitary units.

Violette Mubarak, Acting General Manager of the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre, thanked the Federal Republic of Germany and its Development Bank (KFW) and UNDP, highlighting that the support provided will enhance the Centre’s ability to provide high-quality services and equal opportunities for the most vulnerable.

The renovation of the Internal Medicine Department at St. Joseph Hospital is jointly funded by TAAWON, Waqfiyat Al Quds and the Federal Republic of Germany, and implemented by UNDP.

Jamil Koussa, Director General of Saint Joseph Hospital, said "Our mission will not be accomplished without the support of our partners.

St. Joseph is very grateful for the support of Germany, TAAWON, and UNDP in executing this project".

The renovation works at the Internal Medicine Department will increase access to quality healthcare services for over 6,800 patients from across Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza, while creating employment opportunities.

Renovation works covered patient rooms; nursing stations; doctor rooms; clinics; isolation, ECO, and stress counselor rooms, offices, and public utilities. The inauguration was also used to officially hand over urgently needed equipment procured with the support of Germany through GIZ during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Germany supported Palestinian health facilities during the Corona crisis. But the support handed over today is also having a systemic impact, improving the health services in East Jerusalem beyond the times of pandemic," Oliver Owcza, the German Representative stated.

He thanked all partners for their coordinated work that made the projects successful.

UNDP Deputy Special Representative, Chitose Noguchi, thanked the Government of Germany for their longstanding partnership and highlighted that the Employment Generation Program has significantly improved people’s livelihoods, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and supported their resilience. "Through these projects, we are not only renovating facilities, but we are also creating job opportunities and supporting the resilience of institutions in the city," she added.

The Government of Germany has funded, through KfW and executed by UNDP, over 765 projects in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip through its Euro 100 million Employment Generation Program, generating over 1.2 million workdays and 2,200 permanent jobs so far. The eleventh phase of the program will improve access to health services for more than 150,000 Palestinians, with investments reaching US$ 3,344,000 in the health sector across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.