The Palestinian Sentinel Surveillance Platform and Network was officially launched during a kick-off meeting in September 2025, attended by consortium partners from Palestine and Belgium. Prof. Lode Godderis, Professor at the Environment & Health Unit - KULeuven, and Coordinator of the South Initiative PSNP project, started the meeting,
emphasizing the project's expected impact and commitment to supporting local teams in their efforts to improve health research resilience. Prof. Nuha El Sharif, Professor at Al Quds University and project co-PI, discussed the local framework and emphasized the significance of this collaboration for public health research in Palestine. Dr. Aziza Menouni, Research Associate and Project Manager of the SI PSNP, presented the project's objectives, governance structure, and implementation plan, with an emphasis on improving sentinel surveillance for health outcomes in Palestine. Participants reviewed priority indicators, data harmonization, ethical considerations, and coordination methods for ensuring a long-term and functioning network in the West Bank and Gaza. The kickoff marked the beginning of joint efforts to provide timely evidence to support public health decision-making in Palestine.
