Renewing the Gospel's call to heal the sick by supporting Anglicans working across the world in health care, whether in clinical settings or in the community

Welcome

Welcome to the June newsletter from the Anglican Health and Community Network.

In this edition, read about:

• Reflections on the impact of the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre and their work amongst Palestinian children, from the General Director - Violette Mubarak.
• Resources about health, healing and peace-making. 
   

If you have any further comment or want additional support in your advocacy work, please do get in touch on ahcn@anglicacommunion.org

About the Writer: Violette Mubarak

Violette Mubarak is the General Director of the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre (JPBC) in East Jerusalem. Her responsibilities include managing the JPBC, the Child Rehabilitation Centre, and the Inclusive School, supported by a team of 130 staff. Violette's unwavering commitment to service and care for the most vulnerable, even in the face of conflict and adversity, stands as testament to the power of hope and human compassion. 

In this compelling account, Violette reflects on the centre's work in serving Palestinian children and families. Despite the diminishing Christian presence and ongoing challenges in these areas, the JPBC remains a beacon of hope.

Light in the Darkness: The Work and Impact of the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre

“You are a candle in the dark for us,” said a mother who travelled from the West Bank, across checkpoints with her child to reach the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre (JPBC).  It is a pediatric rehabilitation center and one of thirty institutions of education and healthcare of the Diocese of Jerusalem, throughout five regions, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, including Gaza.  I am a Palestinian Christian and serve as JPBC’s General Director.

The Christian population in the Holy Land has decreased to less than 2% today. However, we hold fast to the words of the Most Reverend Hosam Naoum, Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and Chairman of the JPBC Board:

“In the face of diminishing Christian presence, our diocesan ministries sustain and strengthen our witness, shining the light of Christ into areas of darkness, and offering hope to those otherwise living in despair.”

Across Palestine, over decades, we have experienced a fragmented and inadequate health care system within the context of the blockade in Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. This has resulted in shortage of vital supplies and of medical professionals. The permit system restricts movement and prevents Palestinian patients from reaching the hospitals in Jerusalem to receive their necessary treatment. 

The war in Gaza has created a deepening darkness across the whole land. According to United Nation OCHA data published in 31/5/2024, 75% of Gazans are internally displaced and there are over 82,000 reported injuries. 24 hospitals have closed and only 12 are partially functioning, including our Diocesan Al Ahli Hospital.  Before the war in Gaza, 5-7% of children lived with disabilities. Today this number tragically continues to rise, and in addition an estimated one million children will also need mental health and psychosocial support. 

However even within this darkness, there are remarkable acts of service. The work of Al Ahli Hospital and our small JPBC team in Gaza are examples of this, as they continue to operate in spite of many challenges.

In the light of the ongoing conflict, the displacement, overwhelming number of casualties and the restrictions on movement, the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre has launched new services in Gaza. Our new rehabilitation department in Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza has been damaged but three of our staff are now delivering emergency rehabilitation and psychosocial services from there, working specifically though not exclusively with children who have undergone emergency orthopedic /vascular surgery in the hospital. The other two displaced staff are working from their new locations in Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis, with children with both acute and chronic conditions.

Under the direction of our Medical Director in Jerusalem, the JPBC rehabilitation team have developed communication tools for screening and assessing children with disabilities and their families in Gaza. Our teams in Gaza and Jerusalem together prioritize cases and agree treatment plans. 

As the needs in Gaza ever deepen, our dedicated Princess Basma team continues to provide emergency intervention, with compassion and commitment for the children and families in their care.

Words from Members of the JPBC Health Team

Musa is our JPBC social worker and explains: “ dedicated to this work, focusing on the deep humanitarian need, regardless of religion, gender and difference, because in this war people have lost their homes and livelihoods.” He and others like him, shining out human compassion and care, give me hope to continue our Christian ministry here. 

Our centre in Jerusalem is based high on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the holy city of Jerusalem.  I am reminded of the words of a grandmother who managed to cross the border from Gaza with her grandson before the start of the war for treatment at JPBC; “It was a tiring journey to reach you but there is no other place like this. You saved us. You are our beacon.”

With the support, prayers and solidarity of our international’s friends across the Anglican communion, we will continue to shine. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

Resources

The following resources on peace-making and healing present further opportunities for prayer, reflection and learning:

• Archbishop of Canterbury 3 habits of a peacemaker
• Difference (everyday peacemaking course): 
• Trauma healing resources: (Recommended by the Bible Society)
• Trauma Healing Institute
• Tearfund community healing from conflict
• Tearfund sanitation and gender-based violence reduction
• Medicin Sans Frontieres resource bank
• Discover all MSF resources, from medical resources, to those focusing on analysis, reflection and evaluation

You are receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in the Anglican Communion Health Network and work of the Anglican Communion Office. If you wish to unsubscribe, click below.