Projects
Jewish Healthcare International was established in 1999 to enhance the quality of and increase access to healthcare services for vulnerable communities throughout the world. We engage hundreds of volunteer healthcare professionals, who then educate thousands of overseas healthcare professionals, thereby improving the quality of healthcare available to hundreds of thousands of patients. We mobilize teams of Israeli and American healthcare professionals, sending them to volunteer their time and expertise in our international sites, to help meet the needs of those communities. Our volunteers provide a variety of services including medical and dental consultations and specific hands-on training and education for local healthcare providers. JHI also helps supply pharmaceutical and medical supplies and equipment to those communities. Our involvement is designed to fill gaps in service and address the unmet needs in the communities we serve.
Return from Riga
Dr Stuart Fishman, JHI COB offers first reflection upon his return from his recent mission to Riga -“Ba Regel Ehad”
"It has been less than a week since I returned from Riga, this brief report is intended to provide a summary of the mission". The mission included Dr. Ofer Moses, an Israeli periodontist and Dr. Galina Plotnikova, an Israeli physician specializing in gerontology, in addition to me. All scheduled activities were carried out uneventfully and mission objectives were met."
The former WIZO Center has been reorganized as the Riga Jewish Welfare Center (RJWC) and is under the direction of Zvika Timberg. I had been in communication with Zvika before the mission and was aware of the “new direction” planned for the Center. In coordination with a new and dedicated staff, he has initiated an active program to assist the clients dependent on the Center. JHI will embark on a new era of collaboration with Bikur Holim and the RJWC.
Due to the fiscal crisi on Lithuania, Bikur Holim has a significant financial problem. The country’s economic situation is said to be the worst in the northern part of the European Union. The dedicated Bikur Holim staff continues to provide care to the best of their ability. The Dental Center of Excellence continues to progress. The staff dentists are improving their skills in placing dental implants and managing more complex cases.
Plans for future JHI activities were discussed potential long-range goal would be the establishment of geriatric care for the Riga Jewish Community including medical, dental and social components and would be a joint effort of JHI, RJWC, Bikur Holim, with additional financial support to be sought from appropriate agencies. Bikur Holim requested a geriatric care nurse be a member of the next mission. The immediate dental goal would be the provision of dental prostheses to clients of RJWC in need of this service.
Dr. Stuart Fischman, Chairman of the Board of JHI, has been active with JHI since 2004. He has been a member of six missions to Riga, Latvia; where JHI works to assist the Bikur Holim Hospital and the Latvian Jewish community.