A Place to Turn When Illness Strikes
For decades, the Caritas Baby Hospital was Palestine’s only paediatric hospital. Today, there are others; yet the hospital in Bethlehem has remained the first place mothers and children turn – particularly if they are stricken by poverty and need. The most frequently diagnosed diseases are those associated with poverty. In summer, doctors battle against diarrhoea; in winter, respiratory infections and hypothermia plague the small patients.
In addition to the outpatient clinic, the hospital has three wards: two for general treatment and one maternity ward. Each year, the hospital sees over 30,000 children. Nine doctors and around 80 nurses ensure they are given the best care possible – irrespective of religion, nationality or social origin.
