Welcome to Birzeit University

Department of Community & Public Health

Policy and Action Oriented Research:

Mostly in collaboration with local institutions providing health and allied health services, the Centre has been active in the area of producing policy-oriented, as well as action- oriented, research documents that emphasize the social-cultural dimension of health status, as well as the structural (physical and infrastructural) impediments to improved health conditions.

The Department's field research is the starting point of any project. All action is precluded by the Department's investigation of need/demand and review of what has been achieved locally. All needs-assessments incorporate needs as perceived not only by professionals, researchers and policy makers, but also by the population to be served, into project planning and implementation. In addition, staff also engages in conducting feasibility, monitoring and evaluation studies aimed at implementing health projects (including training schemes)or assessing their impact.

The Community Health Centre also takes a leading role in the dissemination of research results and in the advocation of the needs and priorities of excluded groups. These roles are fulfilled through formal and informal public speaking, often in the context of workshops and conferences, as well as formal and informal linkages with local and international non-governmental organizations working in the area. More recently, the Centre has established links with the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

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