The Prem Rawat Foundation Renew Support of SJEHG

The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is most pleased to announce that The Prem Rawat Foundation has awarded $30,000 (£18,840) towards our work with children across the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

This is the fourth award to the Hospital Group made by The Prem Rawat Foundation and marks a $5,000 increase on that of 2010. 

Set up by Indian-born Prem Rawat in 2001, the US foundation is especially concerned with the provision of the fundamental human needs of food, water, and peace so that people everywhere can live their lives with dignity, peace, and prosperity. 

In the oPt, over half of the population – 52% – is under the age of 18.  In the West Bank, the average age is 19.  Poverty and unemployment rates are high.   Consanguinity – children born to related parents, usually first cousins – is common.  Offspring born of consanguineous marriage run an increased risk of congenital abnormality, and the risk is greater if there have been many generations of such marriages within the family. 

Mobility restrictions in the oPt encourage this practice and probably half of all children are affected.  Unfortunately, the eye is particularly susceptible to congenital disease and many children are born with severely impaired vision as a result.  80% of those treated at our Orthoptic Department in Jerusalem – which deals with congenital conditions such as strabismus (squint), amblyopia (lazy eye), defective binocular vision and diplopia (double vision) – are under 18. 

In the oPt, obvious defects of the eye are socially stigmatized and can lead to children being hidden at home and not sent to school, thereby decreasing their chances of playing a productive role in adulthood.  For young women, they are especially disadvantageous, influencing ability to make a good marriage

A child’s visual development continues from birth to seven years old.  Early detection and treatment of defects is critical in order to prevent later issues – not least a potential loss of sight. Treatment and follow up of visual impairments are most effective before seven years.

In addition to congenital deformities, there are children who suffer from chronic eye disease, such as glaucoma. Treatment of chronic conditions lasts a life-time and can be expensive.  Given the high percentage of children in the Palestinian population, there are many play-related accidents, not to mention trauma cases.

The causes of the need to help children in the oPt are complex and manifold.   This kind award from The Prem Rawat Foundation will go a long way towards helping us ensure that children retain their sight and are abvle to access education.

To find out more about  The Prem Rawat Foundation, visit their website.