MigrantHealth:IL

The Need, explained:

In May, a young Eritrean refugee living in Tel Aviv, contracted chicken pox. In most of Israel, or the Western world, this would not be a big deal; if the case gets complicated you go to the doctor, she gives you medicine and the infection clears in a few days.

This mother did not know where to go for help. She was not aware of the free medical care available for refugees who are not covered in the Israeli socialized healthcare system. Because of this, she remained at home and the simple case of chicken pox transformed into a deadly pneumonia.

MigrantHealth:IL addresses the disparity between available health care resources and the Israeli migrant community—our health outreach program prevents scenarios as the one above, that typify the disconnect between resources and needs. 

Our Campaign:

In collaboration with the Tel Aviv Refugee Clinic, we will employ nurses from within the migrant community to improve the health of this population. These nurses are uniquely qualified for working in the migrant community as they are multilingual, highly trained in their home countries, eager to work, and already have their fingers on the ‘pulse’ of their community.

The nurses are responsible for:

• Coordinating care
• Translating for doctors and patients
• Educating their community
• Leading outreach and screening activities in the community 

We hope to raise $15,000 which is enough to hire three nurses (part-time) for one year. Employing nurses will provide these qualified professionals with an income and at the same time enable the clinic to function at full capacity. The more money we raise, the more nurses can be employed to make a greater impact on the community’s health. Your donations will support the 2012-2013 pilot program. Our first year will demonstrate the efficacy of this model in order to secure financial support from the Israeli Ministry of Health and local hospitals for the future.

The ROIcommunity has pledged to match every dollar you donate (up to $7,500)—doubling the impact of your contribution!!

What is MigrantHealth:IL?

MigrantHealth:IL bridges the gaps in healthcare access, care coordination, and health education for the 80,000 Israel’s migrant community. This population is not covered in the socialized Israeli healthcare system, leaving each migrant vulnerable to adverse health outcomes.

At MigrantHealth:IL we:

• Increase patient awareness of available resources and improve health literacy
• Overcome language and cultural barriers
• Use technology to coordinate care between providers
• Ensure follow-up
• Reduce the overwhelming demand on local hospitals and clinics. 

www.migranthealth.org.il

Thank you for taking the time to learn about our campaign. We look forward to having you as a partner in the future health of the migrant community in Israel!