|
In July 2009, at the initiative of MDA General Director, Eli Bin, Magen David Adom joined the unique clinic project in South Tel Aviv for treating foreign workers and refugees-groups to whom the government insurance law does not apply. MDA carried out extensive renovations at the clinic so that it could absorb the many patients with maximal comfort and under suitable conditions. In addition, MDA takes care to supply exhaustible medical equipment and to integrate MDA volunteers - first aid providers and paramedics on a weekly basis. The volunteers help doctors in taking medical measurements, bandaging, setting bones, giving inoculations, etc.
The clinic operates in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, and the Israel Medical Organization sees to providing doctors at the clinic. There are some 80 volunteers doctors on duty at the clinic. In 2009, specialists in the fields of rheumatolgy, cardiology and orthopedics joined the rows of volunteers. 
The clinic opened as a result of the absence of care for refugees lacking legal status arriving in Israel from Africa, Thailand and the Philippines and who are staying in the country without any medical insurance. The clinic offers basic medical service to anyone requesting care, and refugees and foreign workers from places far away from Tel Aviv, such as Eilat, Arad, Haifa, Nazareth, etc. find their way to the clinic.
The clinic is opened to the public 5 days a week from 4:00 PM- 8:00PM (reception of public until 7:00 PM). The doctors who volunteer arrive at the clinic from their workplaces for a "second shift". Well before the clinic opens its doors, a long of patients stretches outside, and the line is even longer in the winter - parents and children suffering from the flu and respiratory track illnesses.
During the 14 month period of activity at the clinic from September 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009, 2,366 refugees received medical care (each patient being counted once even if he or she was treated several times.) A large segment of the patients returned to the clinic more than twice and many of the patients receive follow-up care because of chronic illnesses.
Below is a breakdown of those requesting care at the clinic according to sex, age and country of origin:
Most of those turning for treatment at the clinic are males, outnumbering females by nearly three times.
Breakdown according to sex:
Men - 1773
Women - 593
The population seeking treatment is relatively young and is mainly comprised of 20-30 year old patients.
Breakdown of those seeking treatment at the clinic according to age:
Ages 0-10 - 292 persons
11-20 - 171
21-30 - 1,032
31-40 - 580
41-50 - 212
51+ - 79
Breakdown of those turning to the clinic for care according to principal countries of origin:
Eritrea 1,130
Sudan 521
Children born in Israel 134
Nigeria 133
Ethiopia 96
Ivory Coast 80
Ghana 64
Congo 44
India 19
Egypt 16
Sri Lanka 11
Philippines 11
The remainder of those seeking care at the clinic come from countries such as Chad, Togo, Rwanda, Uzbekistan, Turkey and others.
The majority of patients suffer from seasonal illnesses with colds, coughs, sore throat, flu and headache; stomach aches, bone pain, asthma and skin problems.
In the words of MDA General Director, Eli Bin: " Magen David Adom believes that each and every person has the basic right to receive medical care when needed. Magen David Adom in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Israel Medical Organization makes every effort to ease the suffering of the population in distress and offers a medical response to the sick who are ineligible for medical care -or who cannot afford such care. Three bodies provide equal medical care to refugees and foreign workers irrespective of their civilian status or legal standing."
|
Top
Send to a friend
Print