Date: Mon, 25 May 98 16:13:29 CDT
From: phr@mail.netvision.net.il
Subject: PHR-Israel: Open Clinic For Foreign Workers
Message-ID: <bulk.25507.19980526121609@chumbly.math.missouri.edu>
25 May 1998
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR)
Announces the Opening of Its
Open Clinic For Foreign Workers
Today, the 25th of May 1998, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel opened
the first of its kind, in Israel, "Open Medical Clinic" for foreign
workers. The clinic is located in Tel-Aviv where between 50,000 and
80,000 foreign workers reside within its metropolitan area. The
clinic will be operate three days a week, at first, with one day
dedicated to pediatric care. The staff consists of volunteer
physicians, nurses and support personnel.
Why are we opening the clinic?
Access to medical care is a basic human right to which no person
should be denied. PHR, within the scope of its work on behalf of
those denied this very right, encounters numerous situations which
point to the vital importance of this clinic.
Perhaps most compelling is the issue of the children of foreign
workers who enjoy no official status in Israel. They, particularly
the very young, are frequently left with out medical insurance and
without access to medical care for even the most basic of medical
situations.
"A" is a four year old little girl from Russia. She was abandoned by
her biological mother and adopted by her neighbor, a new immigrant
from Russia. As a result of an inability to demonstrate her
"Jewishness" she has no legal standing in Israel and, therefore, is
not covered by medical insurance. In the middle of April "A" required
medical care for a serious cut on her chin. The hospital provided the
necessary, immediate medical care because the law requires a hospital
to provide care in emergency situations. When the child required
additional care such as the removal of the sutures, cleansing and
dressing the wound and the treatment of infection, the hospital
refrained from providing the care because the child was not covered by
health insurance and had no means available to cover the costs of the
treatment. The woman with whom "A" lives is poor and is unable to
afford to pay for the treatment.
If the Ministry of Health would apply the national health care law to
all children living in Israel and to all foreign workers legally
employed in Israel, as PHR has demanded, "A" and other children in
her situation would not be left in such a precarious and dangerous
situation.
Until its position is adopted by the state PHR cannot reconcile itself
with the fact that a population numbering more than 200,000 persons is
denied access to adequate health care. Therefore, in response to this
situation PHR has opened its clinic. PHR views the clinic as a
necessary first step on the way to a governmental solution which will
ultimately guarantee thousands of children and foreign workers the
right to health care.
Physicians for Human Rights--Israel (PHR)
P.O.B. 592, Tel Aviv
61004, Israel
Tel: +972-3-566-4526
Fax: +972-3-566-2527
E-mail: phr@netvision.net.il
June 2 update: Clinic telephone # (03)-687-5695
The name of the contact person - Rami Adout
Opening hours are 17:00-21:00 Sunday and Wednesday
and from 8:00-12:00 (for Children) on Fridays
|
Stop Abuse
directory
