Beit Natan, an organization that provides patient support and
health education classes to chareidi and traditional women,
recently received a grant from the Israeli National Institute
for Health Policy and Health Services Research to perform the
first in-depth survey of religious women's health needs in
Israel.
Beit Natan director and founder, Chaya Heller, together Dr.
Avraham Schwartzbaum, recently adapted a survey from a recent
JDC-Brookdale Institute of some 800 Israeli women, which was
conducted by Dr. Revital Gross. That study was itself adapted
from a U.S. study.
Heller sees this survey as a necessary stepping stone for
directed improvements of health services in the orthodox
sector. "No statistics exist on this subject--none," claims
Heller, adding that "before requesting funding from the
government or any other body, concrete facts must be brought,
and not just claims, however familiar, that such-and-such
aspect of health care is lacking."
The original Brookdale survey consists of questions on the
general quality of medical service women are receiving,
prevention and knowledge the illness, work and family, and
mental health and family violence. Only about a third of the
questions remain. She expects to add more questions on birth
and fertility issues, and this survey will handle questions
relating to family violence with greater care and
sensitivity. HaRav Ganz of Jerusalem is the mashgiach
of the project.
Beit Natan offers a host of ongoing programs based on four
goals: educating women in health matters, providing support
for women patients and their families, researching ways to
maximize efficiency in meeting the health needs of the
religious public, and providing advocacy for religious
women's issues. Beit Natan sponsors Lev Rachel, a help line
for women suffering from cancer, support groups for women and
individual counselling.
Named in memory of Nathan and Dora Schreiber, a"h,
Beit Natan was founded in 1997. For more information on
Beit Natan please call in Jerusalem 02-6446052. The Lev
Rachel Hotline number is 02-6433447.
