On Monday 9th September 2024 Manchester No 1 Circle had a most interesting talk on the work of the Bethlehem Care and Hospice Trust, a Yorkshire based charity, that provides the only Palliative Care to the terminally ill in the occupied Palestinian Territories.
In its first year in operation it’s 4 nurses have made over 1,400 home visits to 94 terminally ill patients. The Hospice Service was begun following direct requests from local Christian leaders, including the Parish Priest of St Catherine’s Parish for a Hospice service to care for their terminally ill people.
Bethlehem has the highest concentration of reported cancer cases in Palestine and 7 out of every 10 cancer suffers are terminally ill when first diagnosed. Other than the Bethlehem Care and Hospice Trust there is no palliative care provision in OPT.
In the absence of the President, Peter Devine, Harish Narotham, presented a cheque for £500 to the Trust. In making the presentation he remarked that the presentation had highlighted the real suffering of people in Bethlehem as they try to cope with high levels of terminal illness and the crippling effects of war.
In thanking to the Circle Joe McNally, a Trustee of the charity, said, ‘the charity’s resources are stretched. The initial plan was to cater for 32 patients at any one time. As he spoke they were caring for 54 patients and this included two children. Operating at nearly twice the planned capacity together with the impact of the war on obtaining supplies and on prices has stretched financial resources. This generous donation is very welcome.
