USAID MEETS WITH PA MINISTERS OF HEALTH AND

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001496 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELRADE; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; BRUSSELS FOR LERNER; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: USAID MEETS WITH PA MINISTERS OF HEALTH AND PLANNING REF: JERUSALEM 1254 ¶1. (SBU) USAID Mission Director met with Minister of Health Fathi Abu Moghli and Minister of Planning Samir Abdallah July 16 to discuss USAID programs in West Bank/Gaza. Abu Moghli stated that he intends to (1) develop a strategic plan for the health sector and (2) work with USAID on its ongoing health programs. Abdallah stated that he has been developing a six month, economic "Quick Recovery" plan to create jobs with private sector participation and improve the state of education, health care, and humanitarian assistance. End summary. MOH Moghli Keen To Work With USAID Health Projects -------------- ¶2. (SBU) USAID representatives and Econoff met with Minister of Health (MOH) Fathi Abu Moghli on July 16 to discuss USAID programs in West Bank/Gaza. Moghli said that the MOH is eager to move forward with USAID on the Emergency Medical Assistance Program (EMAP III),which supports the Palestinian health care system through procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for major health care facilities and operational support via sub-grants to NGO facilities, and USAID's Mother and Child Health Care (Hanan) project, which aims to improve the health of Palestinian women of reproductive age and children. He plans to develop a comprehensive, strategic health plan for the West Bank/Gaza in the coming weeks, and hoped that the MOH would be USAID,s leading partner in its WB/G health care projects. MOH Gaza Reporting To Ramallah Offices -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Moghli stated that his office still controls MOH operations in Gaza, as PA MOH employees in Gaza continue to report to their supervisors in Ramallah. He said that all MOH procurement will be transferred to MOH offices in Ramallah and Nablus, yet he plans to ship drugs to Gaza with the logistical assistance of ICRC and WHO when needed. MOP Developing A Quick Recovery Program -------------- ¶4. (SBU) PA Minister of Planning Samir Abdullah emphasized the importance of security reform to improving the WB/G investment climate by establishing law and order (see reftel). He said that his office is developing a six-month "Quick Recovery Plan" (QRP) - in association with the Health, Education, and National Economy Ministries - to present to the PA Cabinet in the coming weeks. The QRP aims to improve the state of security, education, infrastructure, health care, and humanitarian assistance, according to Abdallah. He emphasized the important role that he hoped the private sector would play in QRP implementation. WALLES