Rihab Sandouka

Rihab Sandouka
Program Manager, Juzoor for Health and Social Development

Director of Programs at Juzoor for Health and Social Development and one of it’s main pillars since its foundation.

She has a long experience in managing health programs. Her experience varied by working in various health fields in a comprehensive way for all age stages especially in reproductive health, adolescent and youth health, women's and children's health, elderly health, nutrition and chronic diseases, and others. Since health cannot be addressed in a manner isolated from its social determinants, she has worked hard to develop many programs in various areas that include promoting a healthy lifestyle, combating poverty and violence, women empowerment. Sandouka has led important initiatives with a national team, including “Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative”, “Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative”, as well as the initiative of “Youth-Friendly Health Services” in the Primary Health Care centers. Moreover, through her work at Juzoor, she collaborated with a committee of experts to develop the national referral system for GBV cases for the first time in Palestine in 2013, this system was adopted and approved as a national system, as well as updated by national institutions later. Sandouka is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and contributed to the establishment of the National Accreditation System for Baby-Friendly Hospitals in Palestine. She chairs the executive committee of the Palestinian network for early childhood and is a member of the Arab Network for early childhood. Furthermore, through her work as director of health programs, Sandouka coordinates national coalitions established by Juzoor including the Adolescent and Youth Health Coalition, as well as the Elderly Coalition. She also represents Juzoor in many national committees and thematic working groups focused on nutrition, reproductive health, and gender-based violence. Sandouka has contributed to the development of many training manuals in various health and social fields. She has also participated in numerous research projects and studies that support the organization's work and national efforts in setting priorities and directing appropriate interventions.

She has a Master's degree in public health and a higher diploma in Management.