The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) launched a vaccination campaign at their Birzeit Senior Citizen Center (BSCC) in cooperation with the Birzeit Women’s Charitable Society. It was carried out in coordination and with the guidance of the Palestinian Ministry of Health; the support and follow-up of Minister Mai Al-Kaila was essential and for which all are grateful. This campaign sought to vaccinate people over the age of 65 and those suffering from chronic diseases. ‎‏

On Sunday, May 4, 2021, a special team of the Ministry of Health nursing staff administered the vaccine to 150 residents of Birzeit and Atara villages at the BSCC. They used Chinese Sinopharm vaccine as it is effective and safe.

A group of nurses accompanied by members of the BSCC and Birzeit Women’s Charitable Society visited those seniors unable to come to BSCC and administered the vaccines to them.

This action was taken in response to the current difficult conditions, especially the widespread nature of Coronavirus. ‎Furthermore, it contributed to easing the dificulit mobility of seniors to the main city of Ramallah’s health centers and the burden of travel and strain, in addition to providing secure and convenient access to the vaccine at the BSCC. The second dose of the vaccine will be given on May 25, 2021. ‎

Mr. Rateb Rabie, President and CEO of the HCEF, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Health’s vaccination team, as well as his appreciation to the Minister of Health for her direct personal follow-up and coordination of vaccination campaigns in Palestine. ‎ He also congratulated Birzeit organizations, especially the Birzeit Women’s Charitable Society for the support, cooperation, and initiatives that benefited our seniors and community in Birzeit under the chairwomanship of Mrs. Norma Samander. He thanked all the BSCC staff and volunteers and expressed his gratitude to Mr. Dawoud Mansour Shaheen, a member of the BSCC Advisory Board, for being a catalyst in organizing the vaccination campaign at the center. ‎

HCEF will continue serving the senior citizens, women, and youth in order to achieve its mission. HCEF looks forward to organizing and cooperating with all organizations in Birzeit and Palestine in service of our comunity. ‎

For more information, please contact hcef@hcef.org. Your donation for the seniors is appreciated, https://hcef.org/programs/bscc/