Diabetes Club
Background
The health club for people with diabetes in Ibdaa was established in 2007 to serve the Deheisheh refugee camp and the local area,It now has more than 200 members. The majority are 30-60 years old, although the project also involves around 30 children, for whom special projects are run,The club is overseen by a committee currently consisting of eight members, both male and female, who bring different skills to the project. Three committee members also have diabetes, giving it a strong patient focus. New members are typically recruited through word of mouth. Members must be accepted by the committee but may then join the many club activities and have access to preferential rates from local medical-project partners Vision To empower people with diabetes to manage their condition so as to be able to take part in the normal life of the community. |
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Club activities
The project achieves its vision through several activities.
1. Health Support Programme
The club organizes free consultations with specialists, who visit the medical centre to talk to the patients about their condition, carry out health checks and distribute equipment such as glucometers, glucose strips and blood-pressure monitors whenever possible. Medicines can also be dispensed and club members are referred to the Bethlehem Health Institute if necessary.
2. Health Education Programme
There are regular presentations and workshops which, along with materials such as brochures and flyers, inform and educate club members about a range of issues.
3. Psycho-Social Programme
The project committee develops strong relationships with the club members and often makes social visits to members at key points in their lives. These may be to celebrate exciting events or to provide support if required.
4. Home visits
If club members are unable to join the activities at the Ibdaa medical centre the committee carries out home visits to monitor their general health and the status of their diabetes. These visits also provide an important social function and help to maintain links with the community as a whole.
The project achieves its vision through several activities.
1. Health Support Programme
The club organizes free consultations with specialists, who visit the medical centre to talk to the patients about their condition, carry out health checks and distribute equipment such as glucometers, glucose strips and blood-pressure monitors whenever possible. Medicines can also be dispensed and club members are referred to the Bethlehem Health Institute if necessary.
2. Health Education Programme
There are regular presentations and workshops which, along with materials such as brochures and flyers, inform and educate club members about a range of issues.
3. Psycho-Social Programme
The project committee develops strong relationships with the club members and often makes social visits to members at key points in their lives. These may be to celebrate exciting events or to provide support if required.
4. Home visits
If club members are unable to join the activities at the Ibdaa medical centre the committee carries out home visits to monitor their general health and the status of their diabetes. These visits also provide an important social function and help to maintain links with the community as a whole.
Eye Clinic
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Background
The Ibdaa eye clinic was opened in 2007 following a survey by the health departments of local schools that revealed that children in Deheisheh and the surrounding villages had no reliable access to affordable eye-health facilities. One contributing factor was the lack of provision of such services by either UNRWA or the government, In response, the Ibdaa health committee set up the ophthalmic and optical project, resulting in the children in the camp having easy access to the services of an ophthalmologist and an optician, The project subsequently expanded, particularly through awareness campaigns run in coordination with local community groups, and the services of an ophthalmologist and optician are now regularly available to all ages in Deheisheh camp as well as in the camps, villa, villages and towns in the surrounding area. Aims To provide adults and children in Deheisheh refugee camp and the local area with access to an ophthalmologist for regular eye examinations and the prescription of glasses or medical treatment. Help with paying for any treatment required is given whenever possible. |
Provision of glasses
The eye clinic has also run several donor-funded short-term projects to identify children whose families cannot afford to buy them glasses prescribed by an ophthalmologist. These projects have resulted in more than 800 pairs of glasses being supplied to children in Deheisheh, The sponsors of these projects have been:
1. Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF): funded the purchase of 93 pairs of glasses
2. Kinder Foundation (USA): 100 pairs
3. UN International Relief Agency: 125 pairs
4. Norwegian People’s Aid Foundation (NPA): 590 pair.
Activities
1. Medical services
The ophthalmologist performs eye examinations and can carry out minor surgery at the clinic. However if more extensive surgery or specialist treatment is required the clinic arranges for it to be provided at an appropriate local health centre. Medicines are also dispensed from the clinic at cost price.
2. Educational programme
The clinic organizes educational meetings both at the clinic and elsewhere. The aim of the meetings is to provide information about good eye health and the importance of regular eye examinations. Presentations are also given by specialists, followed by discussions allowing patients’ questions to be answered, The clinic also distributes information leaflets to the general community to raise awareness of eye health.
The eye clinic has also run several donor-funded short-term projects to identify children whose families cannot afford to buy them glasses prescribed by an ophthalmologist. These projects have resulted in more than 800 pairs of glasses being supplied to children in Deheisheh, The sponsors of these projects have been:
1. Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF): funded the purchase of 93 pairs of glasses
2. Kinder Foundation (USA): 100 pairs
3. UN International Relief Agency: 125 pairs
4. Norwegian People’s Aid Foundation (NPA): 590 pair.
Activities
1. Medical services
The ophthalmologist performs eye examinations and can carry out minor surgery at the clinic. However if more extensive surgery or specialist treatment is required the clinic arranges for it to be provided at an appropriate local health centre. Medicines are also dispensed from the clinic at cost price.
2. Educational programme
The clinic organizes educational meetings both at the clinic and elsewhere. The aim of the meetings is to provide information about good eye health and the importance of regular eye examinations. Presentations are also given by specialists, followed by discussions allowing patients’ questions to be answered, The clinic also distributes information leaflets to the general community to raise awareness of eye health.