Background Integration of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into primary health care in the Gaza Strip involves the delivery of mental health services within the essential service package provided by UNRWA, as recommended by WHO to fill the treatment gap. In early 2016, a successful pilot demonstrated that the integration is achievable in limited resource settings, and resulted in the adoption of a stepped care model to screen, identify, support, and treat patients. This study aimed to evaluate the MHPSS integration process and outcomes at UNRWA health centres in the Gaza Strip.
MethodsWe used a descriptive analytical study design, with quantitative and qualitative data collected from records, and individual feedback from patients and health care providers (HCPs). The study was performed in the 22 UNRWA health centres of the Gaza Strip and all participants agreed to participate either verbally or by written consent. Approval was also obtained from the UNRWA Health Program Gaza Field Office.
Background The United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is one of the main healthcare providers in the Gaza Strip. It provides primary health services to approximately 1•3 million Palestine refugees, comprising approximately 76% of the population of the Gaza Strip. UNRWA has well-prepared emergency health plans that are based on previous conflict experiences. However, the Great March of Return (GMR) injuries that UNRWA has faced since Mar 31, 2018, are considered a new experience of emergency. GMR is a protest activity launched by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to express their right to return to their homes, from which they were expelled in 1948. This study aimed to describe the GMR-related injury patterns in patients and the health services provided as a part of the UNRWA emergency response in Gaza.
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