Ezrat Achim, the largest chessed organization in Beit
Shemesh, has started operating a bilirubinometer to check
infants for hepatitis before undergoing a bris.
Until now postpartum women living in Beit Shemesh had to
travel to hospitals in Jerusalem to check for hepatitis
before having a bris done on their newborn sons. The test is
performed on babies suspected of having hepatitis, which is
relatively common among newborns.
The sophisticated device, which costs thousands of shekels,
was recently donated to the organization and within days
several babies had already been tested. The parents thanked
Ezrat Achim for the original and welcome initiative, which
made it possible to hold the bris on time while sparing the
infants and their mothers from unnecessary trips to Jerusalem
in buses and taxis.
The device is operated at the Ezrat Achim offices by an
expert mohel with Health Ministry certification. The
organization can be reached at 02-992-2017 or in emergencies
at 057-311-1310.
Ezrat Achim management says due to the increasing demand for
the fetal monitors at night and on weekends the organization
purchased a monitor operated by a certified midwife in her
home, which is located in one of the city's chareidi
neighborhoods. The service is available only at night and on
weekends when clinics are closed and traveling to hospitals
in Jerusalem is infeasible.
