A Message from the Director

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1 P r i n c e s s B a s m a C e n t r e f o r C h i l d r e n w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s Serving our Communities since 1965 Issue 2 Dec A Message from the Director Christmas arrives this year with challenges and also hopes for children in general and children with disabilities in particular. The number of children in need of rehabilitation services and inclusive education is on the rise. At the same time organizations serving children with disabilities either cannot cope with the increasing number or are in need of better training on newly developed worldwide best practices to provide rehabilitation treatments and education for children with disabilities. In most of the cases all organization working in our field of disability lack enough resources and funds. Despite all the challenges the staff at the Princess Basma Centre (PBC) continue to serve and provide comprehensive rehabilitation services for more than 700 children a year coming from West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. Our Outreach team continues to support our partner day care centers all over the West Bank in providing better care for children. Our Inclusive School team and Rehabilitation team continue to provide education to 550 children and rehabilitation services to 30% of the school children that are with various and different disabilities. In our Physiotherapy Clinic for adults we continue to treat more than 1000 cases a year. This year we have celebrated two accomplishments. The Princess Basma Inclusive School received the Hani Qaddumi Prize for Schools of Excellence from the Welfare Association for their role in providing inclusive education; in particular for children with Autism. Moreover, the Princess Basma Rehabilitation Center received the International JCI (Joint Commission International) Accreditation for the provision of quality ambulatory/ medical care services. We invite all our supporters this Christmas to celebrate with us and join us in creating positive change in the lives of children with disabilities. In this issue Message from the Director, Mr. Ibrahim Faltas The inauguration of Child Rehabilitation Dept. Success Story Support us Centre Activities JCI Accreditation Projects Mr. Ibrahim Faltas, General Director

2 The inauguration of the newly renovated Child Rehabilitation Department J erusalem- Under the patronage of Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Princess Basma Centre for Children with Disabilities inaugurated the recently renovated Child Rehabilitation Department at the Center. This department provides quality and comprehensive services to children and their mothers within a holistic inclusive approach. The renovated Department provides different therapeutic services such as Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Music therapy, Speech therapy, Recreational/Psychosocial therapy, Psychosocial support to children and their mothers, as well as a Multi-Sensory stimulation; one of the few and most advanced in the country. The project was funded through a generous donation from the Islamic Development Bank. In his speech, AB Suheil Dawani thanked all the staff and workers of Princess Basma Centre for their tremendous efforts and dedication. It s encouraging that after 50 years of ministry at the center, Princess Basma Centre continues to reach out to the most vulnerable children in our society said the Archbishop. The heart of our ministry at Princess Basma lies in Matthew 25:40: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Mr. Ibrahim Faltas; Director General of the Center, recognized all of those who contributed towards the project. Without the efforts of the staff, engineers, contractors and generosity of the Islamic Development Bank, this project would not have been possible. This is a great opportunity for the center to continue to serve as one of the four largest national rehabilitation Archbishop Suheil Dawani together with Mr. Adnan Husseini, the Palestinian Governor of Jerusalem & Mr. Hani Abu Diab from the Islamic Development Bank during the inauguration of the Centre centers in Palestine focusing on children Through our newly renovated child rehabilitation department we continue as we did for the last 50 years to provide rehabilitation services for children with disabilities that come to our center from all over the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. Those children receive the necessary therapies that they are in need of in order to lead healthy and independent lives. Mr. Faltas also thanked the Islamic Development Bank represented by their local consultant Mr. Hani Abu Diab and the Anglican Episcopal Church represented by AB Suheil Dawani for their support to the center in order to provide the best service to children in need. He also thanked the Representative Office of the Czech Republic, the Welfare Association, the European Union and Diakonia for their support in providing equipment for the Child Rehabilitation Department.

3 From mal-practice and challenges to a new life filled with improvement S aji Zayoud, one and three months old from Silat Al Harithiya, Jenin. Saji came to the world after a long day at the hospital, and during his birth, the mother Laila, 43 years old, suffered from several complications due to the weight of Saji which was around five kilos. The doctor could not deliver Saji easily, and had at the end to pull Saji s hand to force him out. This doctor s mal-practice by not doing a cesarean surgery for the birth delivery (even though it was requested by the mother) came with a high cost; affecting Saji s nerve system. At first, Laila didn t have any clear diagnosis of her child s case. She was facing so much trouble in breast feeding her child that she had to keep him at the hospital for a whole month connected to feeding machines in an urgent attempt to save the life of Saji. Saji s movement was undeveloped. Laila started visiting several clinics and pediatricians to get a clear diagnosis of Saji s problem. Laila finally managed to reach one of the partner clinics with Princess Basma Centre in her area, where she was able to bring Saji for diagnosis by Dr. Waddah Malhees, the Medical Director at Princess Basma Centre, during one of the Centre s outreach visits. Saji was diagnosed and referred to Princess Basma Centre. Saji during a speech and language therapy session At the age of nine months, and at his first admission to the Centre, Saji s diagnosis showed that he had right Erb s Palsy which causes developmental delay. Saji had the following symptoms: general weakness of facial muscles, restricted movement of tongue, blank face, behavior problems such as screaming when upset, poor visual and auditory responses, poor communication gestures, bilateral hand use, neglection of right side, limitation of active range of motion, and delayed physical abilities. All of these problems left Saji unable to roll over, or use any kind of communication skills.

4 Immediately, after receiving all his assessment, Saji underwent a customized comprehensive rehabilitation program, which included physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and recreational therapy, with the presence of his mother for a two weeks program. At the same time of the treatment program of the child, Laila attended the mother empowerment programs at the Centre. The program focuses on awareness raising, follow up exercises for the child at home, and psych-social support. After the second and third admission, Saji showed great progress and improvement on his cognitive abilities and oro-facial muscles. During the interview for this success story Laila emotionally said: without the help of the professional therapists at Princess Basma Centre, I might have lost Saji. Saji is now a year and three months old, able to stand and walk alone; he started to use both hands, he can also express himself using sounds, and understands the meaning of basic concepts and social signs. He will continue receiving different therapy sessions at the Princess Basma Centre. Donate Now Support our Mission Kindly make your donations through one of the following payable to The Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre Bank in Jerusalem Account name: The Jerusalem Princess Basms Centre Bank name: Mercantile-Dscount Bank Ltd. Address: Salah Eddin Streen-East Jerusalem Bank #: (17) Branch # (638) USD Account #: Swift Code: BARDILIT Tax deductible donations: The American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem Address: 25 Old King s Highway No., Suite 13, Darien, CT 06820, USA Tel: Contact person: Ms. Ann Lynn, aklynn@afedj.org Website: Our EIN is under the name of American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem # FOR UK DONORS Name: HSBC, Notting Hill Branch Account name: JustAct Middle East Account number: Sort Code:

5 Children with various disabilities at the Rehabilitation Centre drawing an olive tree during the olive harvest season The Inclusive School during a Christmas Activity

6 PBC rehabilitation team in one of many training sessions on ADHD PBC staff in a safety and security training

7 Princess Basma Rehabilitation Centre becomes the first Palestinian Rehabilitation Centre to receive the certification of the Joint Commission International (JCI) Princess Basma Rehabilitation Centre (PBC) in Jerusalem became the first Palestinian National Rehabilitation Centre to receive the certification from the Joint Commission International (JCI). Princess Basma Centre reached a new milestone in its accomplishments by receiving accreditation from the JCI in December 2015 for Ambulatory Care. The accreditation certifies that Princess Basma Centre provides a high quality standard of service provision to its patients receiving rehabilitation services. Archbishop Suheil Dawani together with the General Director, the JCI Surveyor, Senior Managers, and staff Ibrahim Faltas, the General Director of Princess Basma Centre, thanked all staff at the Centre for their hard work and persistence in order to achieve the accreditation and added: On the anniversary of our 50 years serving our communities, it is no doubt that in order to continue serving for another 50 years, highest standards of therapy services for our patients should be our number one priority. In its Rehabilitation Center, the Princess Basma Centre in Jerusalem, annually provides rehabilitation treatments to more than 650 children and more than 1000 adults from Gaza, West Bank and Jerusalem. The JCI is the international branch of the Joint Commission and works in over 100 countries worldwide to provide accreditation. Hundreds of health care organizations around the world are seeking to achieve the JCI Gold Seal of Approval starting from academic medical centers and hospitals to primary care providers.

8 An Agreement between Princess Basma Centre and Palestine Telecom Group Support Mother / Child Care During the admission of each child to the rehabilitation department, for around 2-3 weeks, the Centre also opens its dormitory to the mothers to stay with the child during the admission period. The mother receives awareness sessions and special homework's to support the child back home, and attends each therapy session. We believe the presence of the mother is essential for the progress of each child. Mr. Raed Awad, Social Responsibility Manager at Paltel together with PBC staff & Sawsan Batato from The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem Support us by donating for each mother 1500$ Princess Basma Centre and Palestine Telecom Group (Paltel) signed this week a cooperation agreement. The signed agreement will allow Princess Basma Centre to purchase the equipment needed to upgrade the outpatient physiotherapy unit and hydrotherapy unit at the Centre. The agreement was signed by Mr. Raed Awad, the Social Responsibility Manager at Paltel Group and by Mr. Ibrahim Faltas, the General Director at the Princess Basma Centre. This generous funding will upgrade the services given to more than 1000 adults and more than 600 children with various disabilities. The equipment includes a fango stirring unit which works as a superficial heat for different conditions, stationary land bikes, and a pool lift to be used at the hydrotherapy unit. This will allow the patients to have an easy access and a safe transfer to the pool, especially children with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy and adults who suffered from strokes, multiple sclerosis or any other neurological conditions. For More Information about the Centre please visit: Website: Princess Basma Centre for Children with Disabilities us: info@basma-centre.org We Wish You a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year