The Order of Malta’s French Hospitaller Association is launching an awareness campaign to help the Holy Family Maternity Hospital in Bethlehem continue to accommodate pregnant women and assist them with the birth of their babies. The hospital, which is managed by the Order of Malta, is modern, well equipped and includes a neonatal unit. It is the only institution in the region. ‘We have run the Holy Family Maternity Hospital since 1985, having completely renovated it and trained over 90 professionals to care for expectant mothers. The Order of Malta was founded in Jerusalem more than 900 years ago and our hearts are dedicated to continuing our work in the region,’ declares Jacques de Dumast, chairman of the Order of Malta’s French Hospitaller Association.

Over 25,000 births at the Holy Family Maternity Hospital since 1985

In 1985, the French Hospitaller Association agreed to open a maternity Hospital with the Filles de la Charité (Daughters of Charity) congregation, within the Holy Family Hospital founded by that congregation in 1895. The first baby was born in 1990, in a fully renovated, newly equipped unit. In 1997, two delivery rooms, a second operating theatre and a neonatal unit were opened and nine beds were added to the 28 existing ones. In July 2001, an outpatients clinic was opened in one of the wings of the old hospital.

The Holy Family Maternity Hospital: some statistics

– 94 professionals trained by the Order of Malta French Hospitaller Association, including doctors, general nurses, specialist paediatric nurses, paramedics, administrative staff;

– 25,000 births, with a zero death rate since 1990;

– over 3,200 births in 2000;

– over 15,000 consultations annually.

But since the beginning of the intifada the number of births has dropped from 330 to 150 per month.

Will babies still be born in Bethlehem?

The French Hospitaller Association is launching a media campaign to raise public awareness of the difficulties facing pregnant women in the region of Bethlehem who need access to medical care. In order to express the commitment of the maternity Hospital’s medical staff to continuing their mission, a poster describing the importance of the Order of Malta’s Holy Family Maternity Hospital has been created. For detailed accounts of the current situation in Bethlehem, please refer to the Order of Malta French Association’s website www.ordredemaltefrance.org under ‘Current Issues’.

Preparing for the future

Together with this campaign, the French Hospitaller Association is launching an appeal for donations. At the moment, the Holy Family Maternity Hospital cannot receive either food or medicines to care for babies and their mothers. The Association is making preparations so that, as soon as the situation allows, their renewed support will mean that babies and their mothers will receive the proper care for their survival and well being.