Renewal of Diocesan Institutions in Jerusalem
The pride and joy of the Diocese is its institutions which are servants of the whole community. Bishop Suheil has made their renewal a keynote of his episcopate. There is much progress to celebrate.
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Revitalization of St. Luke’s Hospital, Nablus
Four years ago St Luke’s Hospital was in a poor state financially and staff morale was low. The Bishop has paid an all day visit to mark the third anniversary of the re-structuring that has restored the hospital to financial good health and top medical efficiency. The Bishop commended the good work of the new hospital leadership and all hospital staff. He said the hospital now stands as a beacon of hope in the city of Nablus. He prayed with patients and visited with the interfaith staff, remarking on the positive changes that have taken place over the recent years. He saw for himself the renovations and upgrading of equipment.
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A new computerized Radiology unit is now functioning.
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The Urology department provides a unique service on the West Bank and made 380 diagnoses last year.
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The new cystoscope now installed will help manage those urological diseases.
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There is a new neonatal machine to support babies with respiratory failure.
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New infusion pumps have also been added to the medical and surgical departments.
Staff morale is now high, as the developments have made St. Luke’s into a quality institution. The Bishop said,
St. Luke’s Hospital now demonstrates the community benefit of interfaith professionals focusing on common beliefs and mission to serve people in need with dignity and equality.
Foundation Stone Laid for New School in Jordan
On a trip for Confirmation Sunday at the Church of the Redeemer in Amman, Bishop Dawani laid the foundation stone for a new school in Husn. With education for special needs children in great demand and with the blessing of the Jordanian government, the Diocese of Jerusalem is expanding its educational outreach to Husn where special education is much needed. Husn is in the north, near Irbid where the diocesan Arab Evangelical School includes students with impaired vision in every classroom. The new school will follow the same tradition of inclusivity for partially sighted children. The school will begin with a kindergarten but the plan allows for school expansion, one grade at a time, to assure continued education for the students.
St. Andrew’s Diabetic Clinic, Ramallah
St. Andrew’s Diabetic Centre will be an essential focus of the healthcare ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem. The construction of the centre is now complete and it is hoped that the needed equipment along with elevators will be installed within the next couple of months.
The main focus of the Diabetic Centre is treating the complicated consequences of diabetes among Palestinians. The outpatient clinic will provide comprehensive services. The Centre will focus on diagnosis, on monitoring diet, on blood pressure and heart vessels, in addition to the necessary diabetes tests. The Centre will be open to all and especially to those who cannot afford treatment elsewhere. A sliding fee scale will be used in order to allow anyone in need to access quality primary healthcare. The idea of a Diabetic Centre in the West Bank emerged from a great need for many Palestinians especially among refugees, as diabetes is growing rapidly in Palestine. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of new registered diabetic patients now exceeds two and a half thousand a year. The Centre is planning to raise awareness among Palestinian communities of healthy eating habits and preventive measures against diabetes.
St. John’s School, Haifa
Bishop Suheil Dawani, the President of St. John’s School, accompanied by the School Board and the parents committee, attended the opening day of the new academic year. The Rev. Canon Hatem Shehadeh, parish priest, led the prayers for the new year and the students. He said
...hopes blow like a variable wind through our communities as much as any other, but this place is filled with new energy.
The Bishop and officers sensed a joyful atmosphere as the new students arrived from the various Arabic towns and villages surrounding Haifa. Mr. Aziz Daeem the Principal, welcomed the new first graders and expressed his wishes and hopes for a very productive year.
St George’s School Jerusalem and International Baccalaureate
With the approval of the Israeli Board of Education, St. George’s School Jerusalem is planning to study for the International Baccalaureate (IB) in the future. This will call for a major change in curriculum, staffing and facilities. Bishop Suheil, with the School Board, Mr.Eid Sader the Principal and his assistants invited Mrs. Haifa Najjar, the General Director of Al- Ahliyyah Girls and the Bishop’s Boys School (which use IB) to meet with them and discuss the issues.
Mrs. Najjar explained the IB system’s international vision, goals, and its implementation. She said the IB system allowed for increased cooperation among the teachers and for more integration. It introduced a new learning environment for students by utilizing technology as a main component in the educational process. It encouraged new techniques and stimulated creative and critical thinking. It also encouraged scientific research and leadership skills.
St George’s has an outstanding history of academic success and its alumni include many leading Palestinians who, in turn, are sending the next generation to the school. The Bishop is keen that the school retains its progressive reputation and that academic excellence is maintained.
Graduation Day at St George's School Jerusalem
