Ophthalmic Services at PRCS/Anabta : Inestimable Services in the Northern West Bank

Palestinians from Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqilia and Nablus seek ophthalmic services at PRCS’ branch in Anabta, where a Saint John Eye Hospital clinic was opened in cooperation with the branch. These services, provided in cooperation with Saint John Hospital in Jerusalem, help Palestinians avoid the hardship of traveling to Jerusalem, especially given the very complex and tight Israeli measures which make it very difficult for them to obtain entry permits.

According to Majdi Ya’coub, Head of PRCS/Anabta, “these services attract hundreds of Palestinians. The hospital’s mobile clinics used to visit Anabta and other rural Palestinian areas since 2005 and were received here at PRCS/Anabta on a monthly basis. Then the mobile clinic turned into a permanent Saint John hospital branch in Anabta. Our joint objectives and humanitarian interests led to the signing of an agreement with the hospital and resulted in the provision of ophthalmic services which lacked in this central West Bank area”, he added.

Husam Jadallah, Director of the branch, spoke about the economic impact of these services: “As the agreement stated that administrative and technical staff shall come from Anabta and surrounding areas if possible, many locals found jobs at the branch, which drove economic activity. In total, more than 100 patients visit the branch on a daily basis from various areas in the Northern West Bank. Created in 1994, PRCS/Anabta provides many humanitarian services in various health fields. The branch grew thanks to the expansion of both its premises and its services”, he added.

Mr. Abou el Hayja, the hospital’s administrative director, said that PRCS/Anabta has become a leading and influential institution in the northern West Bank; its volunteers take part in most events in Anabta, while the hospital itself provides therapeutic services and refers patients in need of surgery to the hospital in Jerusalem. After-surgery check-ups then take place in Anabta. “We provide eye tests, laser services, full medical eye check-ups covering optic nerves, eye lids and the retina.

Other services, including therapeutic services, are provided to diabetics. Moreover, weekly eye clinics receive patients at PRCS/Anabta, including a children’s eye clinic which treats astigmatism and strabismus, a retina clinic, a cornea clinic, an eye retina surgical clinic, an ocular hypertension clinic and an eye plastic surgery clinic. Underprivileged patients are also treated at these clinics in cooperation with PRCS”, he added.