| Location: | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Kingstown | Term of Cooperation: 27th September – 7th October 2019 |
| Implementing Organizations: | The Palestinian International Cooperation Agency – PICA, Medical and Agricultural experts in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Caribbean | SDG:  |
| Background: | In 2017, PICA has designed a program of cooperation to transfer knowledge in the field of agriculture to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines within the framework of South-South cooperation and in line with the UN SDGs 2030 Agenda. PICA submitted a comprehensive report on methods that can be used to improve the medical sector as well as designing and implementing greenhouses in the capital. In march 2019, The State of Palestine represented by PICA participated in the summit of Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in Nicaragua. There, PICA expressed its commitment to the goals, plans and programs aimed at improving the lives of the peoples of the Caribbean region to serve the achievement of common objectives. This includes programs that can be part of PICA’s implementation plan through its human resources. Due to Its sense of solidarity, PICA has implemented various development and humanitarian programs in a number of member countries of the Association of Caribbean States, namely in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Venezuela, and Nicaragua. In cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Jerusalem Pharmaceuticals Company, and the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, PICA carried out its second phase of the development cooperation program in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This program comes as a result of the cooperation agreements signed between the parties in 2017, and as a contribution to promote the global SDGs. In specific, the program aimed to carry out a large number of pre-agreed medical operations in coordination with the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment in Saint Vincent. In addition, the program includes training local medical staff and diagnosing patients on a daily basis. Palestinian doctors were allocated in two main governmental hospitals, the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Kingstown, and the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre in Georgetown. Palestine medical team was made of specialized doctors in laparoscopic surgery, orthopedics, pediatric and emergency, worked in difficult conditions and intervened in urgent operations with local doctors. Moreover, PICA’s mission aimed at enhancing food security through improving the quality and production of some agricultural products. Two Palestinian experts researched the situation based on arranged field trips and meetings. They worked on building channels with investors from Saint Vincent and Grenadines to implement sustainable visible projects- promoting the Palestinian products and services that might be a solution for crisis in SVG. | |
| Purpose: | This program aims to enhance the medical and agricultural sectors in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Caribbean by transferring Palestinian knowhow, as a contribution to promote the global SDGs. | |
| Outputs: | 1. More than 47 surgeries were performed. 2. More than 250 patients were diagnosed and provided with medical treatment approximately by 50 patients daily during the mission period. 3. Provided 225 medicines, supporting a safe, and effective treatment for the infectious and chronic diseases at the Milton Cato Memorial hospital pharmacy. 4. Donated laparoscopic Instruments in cooperation with the Palestinian private sector. 5. Field visits to agricultural establishments and animal farms in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, resulted in a general diagnosis and study of the facilities and farms and suggestions to provide solutions, recommendations, and mechanisms necessary to reach the production efficiency and quality desired. 6. Meeting with Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, to discuss the depth of the relationship between the State of Palestine and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 7. Future stages of the program, including exchanging medical expertise, before the end of 2019 will continue. | |
| Activities: | Eight Palestinian Doctors on a seven-working day mission at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Kingstown, and the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre in Georgetown side. Seven Days of meetings and field trips organized by the ministry of Agriculture lands and surveys department of SVG. | |
| Working Framework: | – Humanitarian Medical Mission as well as continuing the assess the agricultural and poultry development in SVG. (Eight Doctors, & two Agricultural Engineers) to promote South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation. – Training and Capacity building in medical sector, by promoting cross-border learning and sharing of innovations and grow the capacity of leaders and practitioners across sectors. – Discussing the prospects of future exchange of investors and products. | |
| Beneficiaries: | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |