Academy for Educational Development
Skip navigation
         |
AED is a nonprofit organization working globally to improve education, health, civil society and economic development.
Ensuring Health for Families in the West Bank and Gaza
Ensuring Health for Families in the West Bank and Gaza AED is working with the Palestinian Ministries of Health and Education to meet the nutritional and health care needs of Palestinian families in the West Bank and Gaza, under the USAID-funded Maram Project. "Restrictions and confinements have made it more difficult for the Palestinian population of the West Bank to obtain nutrient-dense foods, thus significantly lowering their intake of essential micronutrients," said Anne Roberts, AED senior behavior change advisor. Under Maram, which means "goal" in Arabic, five organizations and companies work with Palestinian partners to improve the health care infrastructure for Palestinians, especially mothers and children. AED is responsible for behavior change communications and helping to prevent micronutrient deficiencies. AED worked with the USAID micronutrient program, MOST, and the Jordan University of Science and Technology to assess the vitamin A status of Palestinian preschoolers. AED is also advising the government on legislation for and monitoring of micronutrient fortification of foods and on implementation of a school multivitamin and mineral supplementation program. To help Palestinian mothers and their newborns who can't get to health care facilities because of curfews or closures, AED created the Gaza Hayyat Campaign. Through the campaign, Maram trained health care workers and mothers' groups, which have made more than 1,600 home visits and held 200 health education sessions. Materials for the campaign include newsletters, radio spots, cassettes, educational kits, and resource books and guides. Learn more at www.maram.info For more information contact: Anne Roberts |
