Bethlehem: Only hospice care provider marks second anniversary

Source: Bethlehem Care and Hospice Trust

Last Friday marked the second anniversary of the Bethlehem Care and Hospice Trust's Hospice at Home service - the only licensed palliative care provider in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

The initiative was launched on 1 August 2023 in response to an urgent request from the Christian community in Bethlehem, a city with the highest reported incidence of cancer in the OPT. Alarmingly, seven out of every 10 cancer diagnoses in the region come too late for curative treatment. Before the service began, palliative care simply wasn't available-leaving many to face terminal illness without the dignity or comfort of appropriate care.

Unable to fund a dedicated hospice facility, the Trust instead developed a home-based care model. A solid operational structure was quickly established in Bethlehem, including an Operations Board supported by Clinical and Financial Governance Committees. Licenses were obtained, medical staff were recruited and trained, and the service officially launched.

Just two months after opening, however, the socio-economic and security environment deteriorated significantly. The OPT essentially shut down-tourism halted, businesses closed, and already high poverty levels worsened. In a region where nearly 30% of people survive on less than £1.34 a day, unemployment soared. Restrictions on movement added another layer of difficulty to delivering healthcare.

Despite these immense challenges, the Hospice at Home service persisted. Beginning with just 11 patients, the team of dedicated nurses have since made over 3,200 home visits, caring for 227 patients and supporting their families during their most difficult times.

Now entering its third year, the service is currently supporting 95 patients and continues to build compassionate communities across the Bethlehem Governorate. But the need is still far greater than the service's current capacity.

"We know there are many more suffering without access to palliative care-not just in Bethlehem, but throughout the OPT," a spokesperson for the Trust said. "We urgently need financial support to expand our services and reach those who are still going without care."

The Trust extends heartfelt thanks to its many donors for their continued and generous support.

For more information see: https://bethlehemcareandhospicetrust.org/