Helping Those in Need
Every day, Children’s Relief Bethlehem’s social workers see the poverty and desperation in which many families live. They focus on the families of needy patients. Thanks to their assistance, anyone can receive medical assistance, and their interaction with the families helps to prevent new illnesses.
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict shapes life in Bethlehem. For the Palestinian economy, the consequences are devastating. Every other household must live on CHF 450 or less every month. Meanwhile over 70% of Palestinian households are dependent on support.
Palestinian medical insurance covers only basic healthcare in government hospitals, which are woefully underequipped. For families, illness has become a huge, uncalculable risk. In most cases, those who cannot pay will not be able to see a doctor. It is for this reason that social work is so important in Bethlehem. The social workers contact needy families directly. They see where necessities are lacking, and arrange to meet the need in coordination with Bethlehem’s other social services.
