“ONLY SIX PAIRS OF GLASSES LEFT!”

A message from Nigel Edward-Few, Director:

Jesus said “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, let me see again.” (Luke 18:41) 

Just as, through His Ministry, Jesus showed compassion and care for the most vulnerable in society, so we too are called to respond where there is desperate need today – to find practical ways to relieve hardship and suffering, especially for those who are sick,  vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Given the current situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories, up to 70% unemployment and 40% on the official UN breadline in Gaza and the West Bank, many Palestinian families struggle to afford even the basics in life. For those who have the added burden of even the simplest, let alone any serious eye condition, the cost of even basic treatment is beyond their reach. With strict travel restrictions also in place for many Palestinians, especially from the West Bank, access to any treatment can be impossible, even were they able to afford it.

Thankfully, excellent standards of care are being provided by BibleLands’ Partner Projects on the ground, particularly the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, who are helping these people – whether young or old.

For many years, BibleLands’ supporters have given old spectacle frames and generous donations to the BibleLands-supported Spectacle Fund, enabling hundreds of Palestinian children especially, to get back a useful level of sight that is so vital to their education and future.

So great has been the demand for the subsidised provision of corrective spectacles that BibleLands’ investment in 2000 of £10,000 is now all but exhausted and there is now only £250 left in the fund; ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY JUST ANOTHER SIX PAIRS OF SPECTACLES. 

Over the last few years, because of the travel restrictions, the St John Eye Hospital has run outreach vision clinics that help those who are not able to make the journey into Jerusalem for treatment. In recent months, a second outreach unit – with a further vehicle and the extra staff to run it – has taken to the road to meet this increasing need. 

To do this vital work, it is also important that even qualified general nurses have additional specialised ophthalmic training. The St John Eye Hospital provides a course for such nurses that helps maintain the highest standards of eye care, both at the Hospital and in the surrounding region through its travelling clinics. The fund for this training programme is also running extremely low and this year the Hospital will suffer a deficit in its training budget of £37,000. If this is not met, it is difficult to see how such training could continue in the longer term.

In response to these needs, we have chosen the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem to be the main focus of our Summer Appeal.

The information sheet [146kB pdf] gives detailed information about both the BibleLands Spectacle Fund and the Hospital’s specialist nurse training programme. Please take just a few moments to read this leaflet and be inspired to help give sight and continued essential eye care to the visually impaired children of the Middle East. We hope not only to raise enough to cover the £37,000 deficit and provide a top up of £10,000 to the Spectacle Fund but also to provide support to other BibleLands Partner Projects in Israel and the Occupied Territories to help them to continue their work with the visually impaired.

Could I ask you to make a priceless investment in the future of these visually impaired children by making a donation online here or printing out the response form [38kB pdf] and returning with your donation? We and they would be immensely grateful.

With warmest Christian greetings

Information Sheet
Click image to to view
[146KB pdf]

Response Form

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 [38kB pdf]

Nigel Edward-Few
Director