Swiss Bishops Visit the Baby Hospital in Bethlehem

Beitrag des Schweizer Fernsehens

Switzerland’s bishops kicked off their pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine with a visit to the Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem. The Bishops’ Conference has for many years recommended that the parishes take up a special Christmas collection for the hospital, whose support organization is headquartered in Lucerne. In Bethlehem, the bishops experienced first-hand how essential the assistance of the Swiss parishes is. “Our visit in Bethlehem is a symbol of our solidarity with the people of the Holy Land,“ said Bishop Giacomo Grampa, at the beginning of his day at Jesus’ birthplace. After a thorough orientation by General Director Anna Beck and Medical Director Dr. Hiyam Marzouqa, the bishops declared themselves very impressed by the work being accomplished there. The conditions under which many families are living make it vitally important to have institutions such as the Caritas Baby Hospital , which is open to all families, regardless of nationality, religion or social status.

The bishops were pleased to hear that the Caritas Baby Hospital will soon begin construction on a new outpatient clinic and an expansion to the Mothers’ School. These additions will bring improved medical care and allow more children to be helped. Currently, over 30,000 children are treated there annually. “It is significant that the bishops didn’t only visit the Child of Bethlehem in the Church of the Nativity, but also took time for the children who live in Bethlehem today – and are ill,” said General Manager Anna Beck. She is happy that the bishops so appreciate the work of Children’s Relief Bethlehem. The Caritas Baby Hospital is the only pediatric hospital in the entire region.

The economic decline of the Palestinians has grave effects on society. “As is so often the case, it is the children who are the first to suffer and become ill,” explains Dr. Hiyam Marzouqa. Thus, the doctors and nurses struggle mainly against the diseases that accompany poverty. The children are weak, so a common cold can become a serious illness before you know it,” says Dr. Marzouqa. “Many families live on bread and tea. Meat and vegetables are luxuries that many have not been able to afford for a long time, now.” The results can be clearly seen in the Caritas Baby Hospital.

In the wards, Dr. Marzouqa introduced the bishops to several of her patients. The fate of these children moved the bishops and got them to thinking, because in Switzerland, living conditions for the families in Bethlehem is not usually seen as being so dramatic. Declared Bishop Grampa, “Back in Switzerland, we will try to get more people to come here – to show their solidarity and to render assistance.”