(by Massimo Lomonaco)
BETHLEHEM - The 'Holy Family' hospital of the Order of the knights Malta in Bethlehem will celebrate the birth of its one hundred thousandth newborn (4,646 were born over the course of the last year). The results speaks loads about the role and importance in the Palestinian Territories of this highly advanced health structure in the neonatology field.
The hospital not only aims to create a new ward but also to expand the type of direct assistance it provides in the more remote areas through mobile medical units.
"Our prerogatives of absolute neutrality, without any political agenda and our proven record of bringing help in the spirit of the founders of the Order, allow us - highlights Grand Hospitaller, Fra' Alessandro de Franciscis- to operate in difficult areas such as the ones where we are now or as has been happening in Ukraine". The Order of the Knights of Malta are subject to international law, they are a secular religious order of the Catholic church. They hold bilateral relations with over 110 countries and the European Union as well as Observer status at the UN. It is a global institution that operates with medical, social and humanitarian missions in over 120 countries.
"The 'Holy Family' hospital serves the southern part of Palestinian [Territories] in the governorship of Bethlehem and Hebron. The Grand Hospitaller - Minister of Health and of International Cooperation as well as a pediatrician himself- notes that following the input of Pope John Paul II, the hospital began activity 35 years ago, in the property in Bethlehem that belonged to the nuns and realized by the French.
The health standards and the results - assures the hospital during a media tour- are equal to those of western Europe. One of its strongest points, among others, is the ICU (intensive care unit), which has 18 places and takes care of newborns born after 25 weeks, the infants remain in the unit for 90 days; there are three operating rooms for emergency cesareans with surgeons and anesthetists, nurses and neotalogists.
At the hospital - which includes a pharmacy, a laboratory and serves as a teaching and training center for health staff- approximately 200 thousand Palestinians work there. Of these 25 doctors (10 are residents), 53 obstetricians and 43 nurse.
