Support for eye hospital

Branch members from Bexhill, Crawley, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Lancing & Sompting, Littlehampton and Southwick presented cheques to the Order Hospitaller, Mr Anthony Chignell at a Salmon and Strawberry luncheon held at Southwick Methodist Church in Manor Hall Road recently.

Fellowship members answered the plea from St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital for replacement hospital bed and lockers.

Monies raised from the luncheon and other Fellowship Branch events have ensured that one bed and four bedside lockers will be purchased.

The Hospital, which is celebrating its 125th Anniversary, provides access to specialist eye healthcare for conditions including blindness, glaucoma and cataract.

Patients come predominantly from West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem area. Blindness caused by eye disease is ten times more common in this region than in developed countries.

Each year more than 65,000 people are treated and more than 4,000 operations are performed.

The Order has three satellite clinics in Gaza City, Hebron and in Anabta plus two mobile outreach clinics covering the remote areas of West Bank.

The Hospital trains local doctors and nurses. It runs a one year postgraduate specialist ophthalmic nurse training programme linked to the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and is accredited by Thames Valley University.

President of St John Fellowship, East Bert Sharp said: "We are regular supporters of the Eye Hospital but with this being its 125th Anniversary we wanted to purchase equipment they need now."

St John Fellowship is for members and non-members of St John Ambulance who wish to support its life-saving work. In Sussex there are seven Branches '“ meeting at St John headquarters in Bexhill, Crawley, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Lancing & Sompting, Littlehampton and at Southwick.

As well as organising a varied programme of social activities, Fellowship Branch members have supported operational Units with fundraising and become simulated casualties at events and competitions.

Contact Bill Booker, County Fellowship Representative on Eastbourne 01323 504739 for details of Branches and forthcoming events or call County HQ on 01273 371500.