Vatican hospital will care for seriously ill refugee children
Bambino Gesù Hospital of the Holy See and the United National High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) have agreed to provide badly needed care to Jordanian and vulnerable refugee children with serious illnesses. The partnership will ensure that more than 300 children receive life-saving surgery in 2017, including cardiovascular, ophthalmic, orthopedic and neurological surgery. UNHCR Jordan supports health care assistance to refugees in the country, but lacks the resources to provide treatment to many serious cases.
Mariella Enoc, president of Bambino Gesù Hospital, said: “When there is genuine care and common interests only to help those in need, a response can be immediate. In Jordan last week only, in a few days we deployed a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon to work with the Jordan University Hospital Over 30 children with severe heart malformations received consultation and were selected for future surgeries.”
Daniela Cicchella, UNHCR Assistant Representative for Protection, said of the collaboration: “Additional health support that benefits refugees and Jordanians alike is warmly welcomed, especially at a time of reduced opportunities for resettlement based on medical grounds. This contribution provides a vital service and an opportunity to exchange expertise in paediatric surgery”.
Bambino Gesù Hospital provides a broad range of care and surgeries and is a highly regarded centre for the health of children and adolescents from Italy and abroad. It is the largest sub-specialty children’s hospital and research centre in Europe.
ACN Malta
