The recognized and unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev cope with a lack of infrastructure, life-threatening pollution, and a lack of access to exercise equipment. In the past decades, the Arab Bedouin community is transitioning from a semi-nomadic lifestyle to permanent settlements. There has been minimal support services to ease this difficult transition from the health and social service agencies in Israel. Moreover, there is a growing rift between the agencies and the community. Today, many residents of the permanent villages are overweight, cope with diabetes or pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, heart ailments, poor nutrituion and emotional pressures.
AJEEC-NISPED works to increase health awareness among the community and to prevent disease through workshops about proper nutrition and a healthy, active lifestyle. The organization runs a women-only gym in Rahat, organizes power-walking groups in various villages and runs a women’s health mediators program together with Soroka University Medical Center.