MIDDLE EAST: Jerusalem diocese receives $250,000 grant for healthcare training program

By Matthew Davies, June 03, 2009 [Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is undertaking a training program in neurosurgery made possible by a US$250,000 grant from the TATWEER Association, a non-governmental development center based in Ramallah, with funding coming from the World Bank.

Under the direction of Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Suheil Dawani and his coordinator for healthcare institutions and services, Dr. Hisham Nassar, the project is providing three months of specialized neurosurgery training for two doctors and nine nurses from St. Luke's Hospital in Nablus. St. Luke's is one of two hospitals run by the diocese, the other being the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza.

"The field of neurosurgery was prioritized by the Palestinian Health ministry," according to a news release from the Jerusalem diocese.

For the training, two medical centers have been chosen -- the Palestine Hospital in Amman and the ein Karem Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem. The program will include training in emergency room services, intensive care, and orthopedic units.

After the completion of the three-month program, the trainees will return to St. Luke's Hospital, which recently employed two new neurosurgery specialists.

Health care has been among Dawani's top priorities since taking office in Jerusalem three years ago. In Nablus, the hospital has been being completely renovated, reorganized, computerized in its records and a new director named. "Today it is considered a leader in neurosurgery," said the news release, which noted that the renovations were made possible though grants from Anglican, ecumenical, interfaith and local partners.

Dawani commended the new health-care initiatives. "We live in region that often faces political instability and attendant higher levels unemployment. We offer, in a good number of instances, these life giving services are provided at little cost to those who come to our doors and whose finances are determined to be severely limited," he said. "We are able to do this due to the high professionalism and careful planning of our staff and the compassion and generosity of our partners both here at home and aboard for which we are deeply grateful."

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