Nazareth Trust - Susanne Horsburgh

Susanna Horsburgh with her husband Rob visited the club  to share the updated story of The Nazereth Trust.  Members may recall supporting the work of the Trust previously.
Susanna shared a video outlining the history of the charity, formed by Doctor Barton and his wife, as part of the Edinburgh Missionary Society, in 1861.  The first hospital in Palestine it is still known as ‘The hospital on the hill’ however it has grown and is now a District General hospital caring for people of all faiths, political persuasion and tradition.  It is in a unique position in Israel and the Middle East as apolitical and can, working with partners, support all communities. It is the main trauma centre in Nazereth with 600 staff and 150 beds serving the 264,000 population.
The volunteering programme run by the Trust sees over 100 people from all around the world volunteering in various roles from 3 weeks to a year supporting the hospital.
There is also now a School of Nursing with more than 2,100 nurses graduated and is the only Arab nursing school in Israel.
In addition the hospital grounds house  ‘Nazereth Village’ a restored first century farm and village is a major tourist attraction with more than 120,000 visitors every year.

However, the hospital healthcare budget only provides the basics, any additional facilities or activities must be funded separately.  The Trust has recently launched a new project – a mobile clinic to go into the West Bank, staffed by paid core employees and volunteers, and provide healthcare for the 15,000 Bedouins who lack primary care services and experience multiple health issues.  The Trust is trying to raise enough to cover the capital costs of £250,000 and another £250,000 per year for 3 years to set up and run the clinic.