Dear Knights Members of the Provincial Priory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight,
On behalf of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, I would like to thank you all for your continued support of our mission, following your most recent donation of £1,500 towards our work in Gaza. Thanks to everyone who made this possible.
Your donation will help us purchase a Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) system for the operating theatre at our hospital in Gaza City. This is a vital piece of equipment and will provide an immediate, uninterrupted source of power should the electricity fail, ensuring that essential surgical equipment continues to function safely until the hospital’s generator takes over. By preventing interruptions to surgery and protecting critical medical equipment, the UPS is key to restoring our operating theatre to full capacity and enabling our teams to provide safe, reliable care– not to mention, bring much needed reassurance to our staff and their patients who have endured some terrible hardships.
Our team in Gaza has continued to treat patients throughout the conflict, and for much of it, SJEHG has been the only charitable provider of specialist eye care for Gaza’s displaced population. Since our services resumed in April 2024, we have treated over 100,000 people. This has been made possible thanks to our dedicated staff, established infrastructure, and the trust we have built through more than three decades of service in Gaza. It has also depended on the generosity of donors, like the Knights of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, whose support is now more vital than ever.
We are also cautiously optimistic that we will soon be able to bring a long-awaited shipment of essential medication, supplies and equipment into Gaza- something that has not been possible since the ceasefire. Together with the UPS system, these supplies will allow our teams to start tackling the substantial backlog of patients awaiting surgery and help restore sight to thousands of people whose treatment has been delayed. As the needs in the Holy Land continue to grow, we are profoundly grateful to know we have your continued support.
I’m also aware of a further donation of £500 towards the UPS from the Sepulchre Preceptory No 27 and I will personally write to thank them.
From Harriet Wheeler, Executive Director
