LWF village health clinic staff review patient cases as they prepare for another day of treating and supporting the health needs of chronic patients at LWF village health clinics.
Many of the villagers used to travel to Israel for work, but since the beginning of the Second Intifada in September of 2000, access to Israel has been severely limited for Palestinians. Access between these villages and other parts of the West Bank is also difficult, due to restrictions on movement put in place by the Israeli Army. Now most villagers make a living through agriculture, including olives, wheat, and animal husbandry. The villages are poor in infrastructure and resources.
Through a small mobile staff of nurses, doctors, and laboratory technicians, the VHCs provide general healthcare services to the village communities.
These services include:
- Prenatal Care
- Postnatal Care
- General Clinical Service
- Laboratory Work
- Healthcare Education
- Diabetes Treatment, Prevention, and Education
- Home Visits to the Disabled and Extremely Ill
- Stress Management
- Occasional Specialized Medical Days
Health education focuses on training women in the villages to act as focal points of health knowledge for their local communities.
The stress management component of the VHCs was designed to help those who suffer from symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, especially children.
The nurses and doctors of the VHCs have a strong bond with the village communities in which they work. This is partially due to the fact that the villages provide the facilities for the clinics, and thus act as hosts to the clinical staff. The staff members are sometimes included in village meetings to coordinate clinic maintenance and improve environmental health. Home visits by VHC staff also strengthen the friendship between the villagers and their clinics.