The College of Nursing at Hebron University with cooperation of The Palestinian National Center for non-communicable diseases – Ministry of Health (PNCNCD-MOH) conducted a workshop about the epidemiology of non-communicable disease in Palestine on celebration of the international heart day. The workshop discussed some risk factors such as smoking and poor nutrition and its impact on heart diseases.

The workshop was opened by Dr. Hussein Jabareen, the Dean Faculty of Nursing at Hebron University, who emphasized the importance of studying the non-communicable diseases since it have become the main killers in Palestine. Dr Jabareen explained that most of developing and poor countries are suffering more from communicable disease due to poor environmental, economical and living conditions, and lack of invested resources to fight communicable diseases, while developed and rich countries are suffering mainly from non-communicable diseases due to urbanization and demographic changes. We in Palestine, however, have the two types of diseases the issue that impose a challenge on health decision makers to plan and implement health programs that confront communicable and non-communicable diseases at the same time.

Dr. Ramiz Dwekat from the Palestinian National Centre for Non-Communicable Disease (PNCNCD-MOH), presented a scientific lecture about Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Diseases addressed the causes, signs and symptoms, and complications of these diseases in Palestine.

A presentation about the challenge of non-communicable diseases in Palestine was introduced by Nurse Aida Zawahra from PNCNCD-MOH. She explained the negative consequences of international commerce and globalization on health. She also talked about the elements of the health strategy to control non-communicable diseases. Finally, the results of the 2006 Palestinian Family Survey were presented with explanation of the health burden of non-communicable diseases on Palestinians.