The Jerusalem-based NGO has expanded its medical equipment lending and aid services to meet immediate & long-term rehabilitation needs
JERUSALEM, Israel, January 10, 2024 – Yad Sarah, Israel’s leading volunteer-staffed organization and largest nongovernmental social and healthcare service provider, has expanded its operations to support the rehabilitation of over 2,500 soldiers – nearly half of all allegedly wounded troops – as the number of injured from the Israel-Hamas continues to climb.
To date, Yad Sarah has distributed thousands of pieces of medical equipment for soldiers, predominantly orthopedic supplies such as wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, braces, and Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) therapy devices. Whereas the organization typically issued about 40 CPM machines per month, it now faces the equivalent of requests for 40 per day!
The surge in hospitalized patients since October 7th due to war-related injuries has placed significant stress on the Israeli healthcare system, threatening a shortage of rehab beds. With over 12,500 soldiers expected to be recognized as permanently disabled, many individuals will require years, or even a lifetime, of intensive rehabilitation, requiring NGOs to increase their activities.
Yad Sarah recently established the Soldier Rehabilitation Unit, bringing together the full range of the NGO’s services, matching them to injured soldiers. This includes facilitating the delivery of medical equipment rentals at no cost and booking accommodations at Yad Sarah facilities for families of wounded soldiers near the hospitals where they are treated. Among the 2,500 soldiers aided by the Unit to date, 1,000 were released from the hospital on the condition that they continue their rehabilitation with equipment and services from Yad Sarah.
To expedite the release of wounded soldiers from the hospital,Yad Sarah has also bolstered its stock of medical equipment at its branches located inside hospitals. This includes Sheba Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Ichilov Medical Center, Shamir Medical Center, Rambam Medical Center and Soroka Medical Center. The branches have seen a multi-fold increase in equipment loans to soldiers compared to before the war.
Moshe Cohen, CEO of Yad Sarah: “Whenever Israel has a medical crisis, we see it as our role to improve and save lives by stepping up and anticipating the “what” “when” & “where”- ensuring that anyone in need of access to critical medical equipment or services receives it. We did this during COVID, and we are doing it again now. The new services will enable quicker hospital discharges without compromising the patient’s treatment so that hospitals can continue to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. It is our greatest honor to serve our heroic soldiers who put their lives on the line to defend our country, and we will do our utmost to support them throughout every step of their rehabilitation journey.”
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About Yad Sarah
Yad Sarah, the leading volunteer-staffed organization in Israel, provides a vital array of compassionate health and home care services for people of all ages.
Founded in 1976, Yad Sarah has 126 branches throughout Israel staffed by more than 7,000 volunteers. Although the organization is best known for its extensive lending service for medical equipment, its volunteers also drive its wheelchair-accessible vans, reach out to the homebound, advocate for the elderly at risk for abuse, provide in-home geriatric dental care, staff its play center, and more. Nearly every family in Israel has been impacted or helped by Yad Sarah. Yad Sarah saves Israel’s healthcare system over NIS 5.5 billion ($1.5 billion USD) each year through its home hospitalization equipment lending services.
To support the organization’s ongoing efforts and learn more about its initiatives, visit yadsarah.org
