Uniting Knowledge, Resources and Solidarity: Gaza Health Initiative Conference Amsterdam
- Date and Time
-
Friday, 13 September 2024,
9am – 10pm CEST - Programme
- Go to the Programme
- Podcasts
- Listen to the conference podcasts
- Media hub
-
Resources for journalists and other organisations who would like to get involved
Go to our Media hub
The destruction of the Gaza Strip since October 7 has been unprecedented. According to a damage assessment report by the European Union, while homes are the majority of the infrastructure that has been destroyed, critical facilities including hospitals, health facilities, and basic services for sanitation, hygiene, education, energy and ICT are all catastrophically damaged.
There are currently no fully functioning hospitals in the Gaza Strip, and an estimated 700 healthcare and aid workers’ lives have been lost. Medical facilities are lacking personnel, beds, medicine, equipment and electricity. The extent of damage to both medical facilities and water and sanitation infrastructure raises significant concerns regarding the potential spread of communicable diseases
To prevent further loss of life, there is an imminent need to rebuild basic services, including most importantly, the healthcare sector.
“ As we watch the situation unfold in Gaza with the systematic destruction of the health care infrastructure and workforce, KIT is committed to use its convening capability to bring the key decision makers around the table to identify priorities and support indigenous solutions for the immediate and long term health needs of the Gazan people. ” ”
Mayada El-Zoghbi
Managing Director, KIT Institute
Conference to support healthcare needs
Recognizing the urgency of the situation in Gaza, a group of medical professionals, non-profit organisations, humanitarian actors, academics and concerned individuals have come together to form the Gaza Healthcare Initiative (GHI).
The Initiative began with a report assessing the needs of the Gazan healthcare sector and a conference in Amman in February 2024. Over 800 participants dedicated to rebuilding Gaza’s healthcare sector gathered at this conference to support immediate healthcare needs and kick-start the sector’s rebuilding.
This resulted in a series of initiatives and events to enhance understanding of the needs, raise awareness among humanitarian and donor communities, and mobilise resources. The conference at KIT will be the third in the series.
“ The Gaza Health Initiative (GHI) is a platform of like-minded organizations and people who care deeply about the recovery of the Gaza Health system. In KIT, we have found a trusted partner that could open doors for us in Europe to make the case for our work and that of our partners on the ground in Gaza. KIT brings understanding of healthcare recovery in fragile settings which we believe will elevate the dialogue and help to strengthen the collaborations that are formed as a result of the conference. ” ”
Convening at KIT in September
The GHI is partnering with KIT to host a follow-up conference in Amsterdam on the 13th of September to build on the achievements in Amman and Beirut, with the additional goals of:
- Accompanying indigenous Palestinian knowledge and power to explore and agree on concrete actions needed for stabilisation, recovery, and development of the Gaza healthcare system.
- Enabling financial and technical partners to pledge their support towards identified health priorities in light of the significant resources required.
- Catalysing global citizen solidarity for the long-term healthcare needs of Gaza.
KIT Institute has an extensive track record of health systems strengthening work in humanitarian settings, which it has brought together under its Centre for Health Systems in Fragile & Conflict Affected Settings (FCAS) .
We have worked extensively in the Palestinian Territories with a number of partners and has a longstanding collaboration with Juzoor for Health and Social Development, which has included projects on maternal and child health, mental health, and women’s empowerment.
KIT’s expertise on global health and its convening power in Amsterdam can help extend the reach of the Gaza Healthcare Initiative by bringing together donors, policy makers, knowledge institutes, and humanitarian and development actors.
Our goals
A list of 3 images
“ Many organisations in Europe feel an urge to show solidarity with the people in Gaza and to support the health system recovery with knowledge and resources. The conference will convene donors, international and local NGOs, humanitarian and development organisations, and multilateral institutions to identify priorities, build bridges, and make pledges for Gazan recovery and development. ” ”
Irene De Vries
Maternal and Newborn Health Expert and Co-Chair of the Organising Committee
Join us
We look forward to welcoming and hearing from representatives from humanitarian and development organisations, donors, academic institutions, civil society organisations, and professional bodies and member associations.
Where?
KIT EventsWe welcome both in-person and online participation.
The conference will be held on 13 September 2024 at KIT in Amsterdam. KIT’s premises has several entrances. To join the conference, please enter through the main entrance on at 63 Mauritskade.
Please visit the programme page for the details.
Hosted in partnership with
