Under the patronage of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Palestinian Ministry of Health - and in the presence of ministers, dignitaries, and supporters - the foundation stone for Caritas Baby Hospital’s Jubilee Building for Pediatric Day Surgery was blessed and laid Yesterday, Monday, November 4, 2024. The Hospital Advisory Council, management, and staff of Caritas Baby Hospital, attended also the event.
Planned in celebration of the hospital’s 70th anniversary, the Jubilee Building stands as one of the most significant development projects to date for both Caritas Baby Hospital and its managing organization, Children’s Relief Bethlehem, based in Switzerland.
The new building will house a dedicated Day Surgery Department, aligning with the hospital’s 2025 strategy, which was shaped by a comprehensive assessment of pediatric healthcare needs in Palestine. Designed to offer essential health and surgical services in a safe, child-friendly environment, the facility will help uphold vital children’s rights, including the rights to life and healthcare, which have been strained by current challenges in the region.
Beyond healthcare improvements, the expansion brings important social and economic benefits. It will enhance the hospital’s capacity to invest in its medical and nursing teams and create job opportunities for Palestinian youth across various fields.
On this historic day, Mr. Issa Bandak, CEO of Caritas Baby Hospital, remarked, “Caritas Baby Hospital was founded over seventy years ago as a beacon of hope for Palestinian children following the Nakba. Today, as we witness the ongoing hardships in the occupied Gaza Strip and the West Bank, we reaffirm our pledge to support the children of Palestine.”
The Swiss community, represented by Children’s Relief Bethlehem and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has been instrumental in this expansion. Speaking on behalf of this partnership, the Swiss Representative to Palestine, Mrs. Anne-Lise Cattin Hennin stated, “Laying the foundation stone for Caritas Baby Hospital’s new building is a powerful message of resilience and progress during these difficult times. This project highlights the Palestinian community's ability and commitment to improving healthcare for children and their families.”
Speaking on behalf of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which recognizes Caritas Baby Hospital as a trusted referral center for critical cases, Dr. Shadi Lahham, the Ministry’s representative and Director of the Health Directorate in Bethlehem, stated, “We in the public sector are delighted with the addition of these new surgical services at Caritas Baby Hospital, as they will foster greater collaboration and partnership between the public and non-governmental sectors”.
The Jubilee Building, located on the property of the Custody of the Holy Land, is projected to cost approximately $8 million. This ambitious project has garnered significant financial support from individuals, institutions, and dioceses across Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Austria through Children’s Relief Bethlehem. Other major contributors include the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Fondazione Peppino Vismara, and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (ADE), which are deeply invested in the region's welfare.
