Photo: Dr Francis Nathan, ophthalmologist, at work in Palestine.

Success! Thank you!

UPDATE, July 2018: APPEH is pleased to report the success of this fundraising appeal to support eye surgery for Palestinians.

The appeal raised an amazing $35,348.58 - of which $33,708.58 went to PCRF for the purchase of two phaco probes, and $1,640 for extra microsurgical instruments for phaco cataract surgery. These will be invaluable in enhancing the quality and amount of eye surgery that can be carried out.

This appeal is now closed, but we will take the liberty of approaching donors and others when we launch our next tax deductible appeal for a humanitarian project later in the year.

And a special message from Dr Francis Nathan...

To all AFOPA members and well-wishers,
THANK YOU for your kind generosity in helping reach our target to purchase the extra phaco probes for Rafidia Hospital,
THANK YOU for your relentless support for the Eye Surgery program of PCRF,
THANK YOU for your belief and trust in the Eye team at Rafidia Hospital, Nablus,
THANK YOU for your compassion for the visually disadvantaged in Palestine,
and THANK YOU for maintaining the resistance to the Occupation!
- Dr Francis Nathan.

May 2018

If you have had cataract surgery or know someone who has had their sight restored, then please share that unique joy and experience with the disadvantaged in Palestine.

YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THIS APPEAL MEANS MORE PALESTINIANS ABLE TO ACCESS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MEDICAL CARE IN PALESTINE.

~~~~~~~~~~

Many friends of Palestine know about the good work of Australian ophthalmologist (and AFOPA member), Dr Francis Nathan, during his regular visits to Palestine. Dr Nathan has performed thousands of life-changing cataract surgeries for poor Palestinian families over many years now.

Following his last visit to Palestine in March 2018, Francis returned with this appeal to support the Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.

Phaco-emulsification is the currently favoured method of surgery to remove cataracts around the world.  It has been the standard procedure in Australia and the western world since the 1990s. It has also been available in Palestine in the private sector.

However it requires an expensive piece of equipment – a “phaco” machine - plus other accessories and a different set of instruments. It also requires the surgeons to be trained with special skills to use the machine.

Earlier this year a phaco machine was donated to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, the only government-run hospital offering modern cataract surgery to the general public in Palestine. However the number of patients to benefit from phaco surgery during Francis' last mission in March 2018 was limited to 7 out of a total of 48 patients with cataracts. This was mainly due to only one phaco probe (which is used inside the eye to remove the cataract) being available - and this one probe had to be specially sterilised with each use, a process taking two hours each time. 

"It is clear we need to purchase at least 2 more phaco probes," said Dr Francis Nathan, "to ensure more effective and efficient use of the phaco machine, which means more patients can be treated."

If you have had cataract surgery or know someone who has had their sight restored, then please share that unique joy and experience with the disadvantaged in Palestine.

* Our fundraising target has been raised to $35,000 due to unexpected cost increases in the equipment and accessories. We appreciate your understanding.

Funds raised in this appeal will be transferred via the Australian-Palestinian Partnerships in Education & Health (APPEH), a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission  (ABN 79 689 287 716).

AFOPA has been authorised by APPEH to collect and process tax-deductible donations to be directed to the Medical Equipment for Palestine appeal with APPEH. Tax receipts will be issued for your donation.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Cheque/Money Order: If you wish to donate by Cheque or Money Order, here's our Donation Form to print & post [pdf].

Online: Payment by Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay & Masterpass (Digital Wallet) accepted.

YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THIS APPEAL MEANS MORE PALESTINIANS ABLE TO ACCESS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MEDICAL CARE IN PALESTINE.

Thank you!