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Diabetes micro-clinics in conflict-ridden West Bank

Bethlehem View of an outdoor market in Bethlehem (Photo by Daniel Zoughbie)
Location, location, location: Bethlehem's Manger Square a good place to spread the word about the diabetes micro-clinic project

BETHLEHEM – The weather in Bethlehem is very hot; however, most men here do not wear shorts, so it's hard to dress comfortably without looking like a foreigner.

Today, I went to the D'heisheh Refugee Camp to meet with the doctors and nurses I will be working with to implement the Diabetes Micro-Clinic Project. D'heisheh is a community of about 10,000 individuals living in high density housing with shops and other permanent fixtures essentially a small city. I visited a cultural center, which is the base for a variety of community outreach programs, including a well-established health program.

In planning for my project, I have been running around the Bethlehem area, meeting with doctors, nurses and directors while trying to secure the location and supplies for the project. This has not been an easy task as things have not been going quite as I planned. First of all, the people I had contacted regarding the purchase of glucose monitoring systems changed the price, so I have had to negotiate a deal with another supplier. I am also concerned that the monitoring systems will not be delivered in time for the project, or only some of the supplies will arrive. Secondly, I was informed that some of the speakers I lined up will not be able to attend. This put me in a little bit of a bind because I had planned on those speakers to cover major topics, but thankfully, I have been able to secure other well-qualified people to fill in.

Another obstacle I am facing is how to publicize the project. On the one hand, I cannot invite the whole Bethlehem area because we have limited supplies, personnel and facilities. But, on the other hand, I do want a significant number of people to show up and benefit from the project. I have decided that to make the project more successful, I will have announcements printed, and the volunteers and I will personally distribute them in the local area. I have been advised that this is the best way to control the amount of participants who will attend while still ensuring a good showing. I have also been going to local medical organizations and NGOs to recruit volunteers to help with the project. I have received many "Yes, we will come," answers, but only time will tell if they really will come. Because I have never worked with most of the volunteers before, I have no way of knowing if they are dependable. I have no choice other than to trust that most of them will show up.

Despite all of these setbacks, I am very encouraged that I was able to secure an auditorium and meeting area at the Bethlehem Peace Center, a newly constructed white stone building with a 150-seat auditorium, art gallery, and conference rooms. The center is centrally located in Manger Square along with the historic Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem Municipality, post office and other important buildings. I especially wanted to use the center because of its prominent location, its professional atmosphere, and reputation in the community.

On a different note, as I travel around planning my project, I have been able to understand the severe economic deprivation of the Palestinians. As I was walking in Manger Square today, little boys who looked anemic and malnourished were begging for shekels from tourists, and still others were trying to sell gum, postcards and other small items. The problem is that if you buy from one, 15 other boys will insistently ask you to buy from them. It is really an awkward situation to be in. Also, whenever I go to take a cab for a short distance, the taxi drivers fight over my fare, which is approximately $3.

I also have observed the clear spatial differences between the Palestinian areas and the neighboring Israeli settlements, which are built in highly-planned clusters and offer a much higher standard of living compared to the Palestinian homes just a short distance away. Many of the Palestinians I spoke with see these settlements as a further encroachment on their land because the settlements exist on or could expand to include land formerly belonging to Palestinians. However, many Palestinians work inside of these settlements, often illegally, because of the scarcity of jobs in the area.

Despite all of the hustle and bustle, I am having a great time and learning new things every day. For instance, today I learned that pedestrians do not have the right of way in Bethlehem. It is sufficient to say that when you walk down the narrow stone streets in Bethlehem and hear a car coming, you had better hug a wall or duck into a doorway. Cars do not stop for pedestrians, there are hardly any traffic signs, and the preferred mode of communication with pedestrians is a toot of the horn. I think that I will use a bit more caution in the future so that my next dispatch will not be from a hospital!

—Daniel