The St. John Of Jerusalem Eye Hospital

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The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is a Foundation of The Order of St John, the oldest charity in the world. The Order of St John traces its origins back 900 years to the Knights Hospitaller and continues to operate around the globe.

The St John Eye Hospital was first established for charitable works in Jerusalem in 1882. The Eye Hospital Group is now the only low cost centre for expert eye care for the Palestinian population of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Our goal, in line with the World Health Organisation’s Vision2020 programme, is to eliminate preventable blindness in the region.

Core activities now include:

• The East Jerusalem Eye Hospital
• The Hebron Eye Hospital
• The Gaza Clinic
• The Anabta Clinic
• Two mobile Outreach Programmes
• Training local Doctors and Nurses.

We treat patients regardless of ethnicity, religion, or ability to pay.

Although 80% of all blindness is preventable, much of it caused by poor diet, diabetes and cataracts, the people of the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) have a rate of blindness ten times higher than in the West.  Poverty levels are high.  The West Bank is home to some 700,000 refugees and 51.8% of all families live on less than US$3•15 per person per day.  

The OPT constitutes one of the world’s most difficult environments in which to provide or access services of any kind.  The historic political stalemate that prevails in the region undermines progress towards peace and has resulted in persistent de-development.  On-going hostilities obstruct the provision and development of a system of public services for ordinary people – including vital health services – and precipitate the need for humanitarian assistance. 

Your support of this very worthy cause is vitally important to us.

Thank you!