Each year, Forbes Israel carefully compiles its Best Doctors in Israel shortlist, usually selected based on exceptional medical achievements. But this year, it was clear that the honour belonged to doctors at the forefront of the battle against the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Forbes Magazine Cover Photo

Three courageous medical leaders have made this year’s cover, amongst them, Professor Sigal Sviri, Head of Hadassah Hospital’s COVID-19 Outbreak Intensive Care Unit. Together with her counterparts, Professor Galia Rahav, Head of the Corona Department at Sheba Medical Centre and Professor Idit Matot, Head of the Coronavirus Unit at Ichilov Medical Centre, it’s safe to say that Israelis are in good hands.  

Professor Sigal Sviri, Head of Hadassah Hospital’s COVID-19 Outbreak Intensive Care Unit

As the longstanding Director of Hadassah Ein Kerem’s Medical Intensive Care Unit, Professor Sviri is used to treating patients with the most complex medical problems.  But, since the pandemic emerged, Professor Sviri relays:

“We haven’t had a break for even one day. Our work is around the clock- treating only the most critically ill patients. We don’t see an end in sight. This period has been extremely fascinating, but also challenging. We are completely focused on trying to save as many patients as possible- day and night.  We have tremendous drive and ambition to fight for every patient and for every respirator.” 

Photo Credit: Yossi Aloni

Although Israel managed to ‘flatten the curve’ of COVID-19 infections at the onset of the pandemic, a second wave has emerged since lockdown and social distancing measures were eased in mid-May.  COVID-19 wards in hospitals are once again filling up with infected patients and pushing capacity. Professor Sviri shares:

“There is a dire shortage of intensive care beds. Infrastructure and staff are the most important right now. It’s great that advanced medical technologies and innovative treatment methods are being developed, but without it going hand in hand with a system that will support patients when they need urgent and immediate treatment – it’s not worth anything. The low mortality rates are largely due to our highly skilled and professional staff but we have a severe shortage of them at the moment.”

Professor Sviri is also looking ahead and gearing up for the winter and flu season, when a third wave of infections may cause even greater stress on the healthcare system. She is taking every precaution and preparing her teams. 

 “The pandemic changed the way we perceive life and instilled in us a new sense of modesty- as this tiny little virus caught all of humanity, completely off guard.”

Photo Credit: Bruno Lavi

It’s been a record-breaking year for births at Hadassah Hospital, with more than 14,000 babies born- including 263 pairs of twins and 7 sets of triplets!

Yet, this week, another record was broken when a mother gave birth to her 16^th child.  (The previous highest number of births per person was 15.) 

Women in Israel continue to lead the Western world in the highest number of births per person, with an average rate of three or more children. Israel also boasts one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, standing at approximately 3 out of 1,000 births.

Hadassah Hospital’s commitment to pre-natal and maternity care has played an important role in Israel’s dedication to maternal and infant health. 

Shortly after giving birth, the proud mother shared a beautiful photo of her newborn daughter and this heartfelt message:

“I didn’t believe I would bring another sweet baby into the world, but when it happened, I was overwhelmed with joy! 

Our little daughter joins another 15 brothers and sisters! The oldest sibling is 26, the youngest is three and a half and in the middle we have a set of twins!  We have a huge and loving family, including grandchildren, that is already waiting for her at home.

The pregnancy was not easy which is why we chose to give birth at Hadassah. We knew we would have the most professional team care for us, which made me feel much more secure.

Sure enough, when the time came to give birth, we were surrounded by the most magical midwives, a very special doctor as well as nurses who worked together as an amazing team.

I will never forget this incredible experience and will always warmly recommend Hadassah to others. I hope every woman who comes to give birth will have a positive and empowering experience- just like mine!

Thank you to my new Hadassah family!”

“The writing was on the wall, in blood”

Ora Korazim, Chairperson of WIZO Israel, in a TV interview with Kan News

Home isolation aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus has triggered a dangerous wave of violence against women. Since the start of Israel’s lockdown, five women have been brutally murdered by their partners. Ora Korazim, Chairperson of WIZO Israel, reflects on the opening of Beit Heuss Emergency Shelter for Women and Children this past week:

I have been privileged to chair WIZO’s Israel Federation for almost a year now. But the last 2 months have been by far the most intense, emotional, challenging and proud months I have experienced in this organization.

 

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our social efforts were targeted at women living in violence, single mothers, teenage girls and children at risk.  

 

Since the Israeli government imposed a lockdown, 5 women were murdered! 

 

The writing was on the wall, in blood.  

 

We need to speak up and take action!

 

Hotlines and women’s shelters throughout Israel are reporting a spike in domestic abuse cases and finding it difficult to provide solutions for those women in need.

‘WIZO- doing what matters’ isn’t just a slogan. This is exactly what we do!  We are the first and only organization to open a new shelter in Israel in over 15 years.

 

We have been working 24/7 to urgently get all official approvals from the Ministry of Welfare. We recruited professional staff and luckily received huge support from our professional teams from Ashdod and Jerusalem shelters.  

 

After only 5 days of operating, this life saving shelter is near capacity with 10 women and 19 children.

 

Upon arriving, one of the women who ran away from the hell of domestic abuse, shared:

 

“Just being in this beautiful place is a healing experience.”

 

We are literally saving lives and bringing smiles to children that only a week ago were experiencing the most horrific time of their lives. They are now playing, talking and walking without fear.  

 

They are finally safe.

The Beit Heuss Emergency Shelter for Women and Children

Ora Korazim, Chairperson of WIZO Israel, wears a mask that reads: ‘Covered mouth, but won’t be silenced.’

When 35-year-old Sarah* went into labour, she knew that her delivery would be different from what her family and friends described. Having been quarantined at home for a week, Sarah was brought to the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) in Ein Kerem, when she went into labour.

Thanks to the communication between the Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance team and the HMO medical team, a special isolated and fully equipped room was prepared away from regular delivery rooms in anticipation of Sarah’s arrival.

Sarah recalls feeling scared for her life and the life of her baby, as she tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at the hospital. With the help of two midwives, fully geared-up in protective suits, she successfully gave birth to her beautiful baby boy.

Due to her diagnosis, Sarah was separated from her newborn son and was taken to an isolation unit, where she will remain until she recovers from COVID-19. The support, dedication, and care of her midwife who stayed by her side until the transfer, truly touched Sara.

At this time, Sarah is fighting to become healthy, and is counting the days until she can reunite with her child. While the separation is difficult for both mother and child, Sarah knows that the supportive medical staff at HMO is doing everything they can to ensure her son is healthy and cared for. In the meantime, she receives frequent calls and photo messages from the maternity ward and is regularly updated on her son’s condition by the attending physician. “Thank you so much!” says Sarah in her messages, “You made me so happy and moved by what you are doing for me. I am worried about my baby from afar and feel helpless, but I am so grateful for your concern and devotion. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“This exciting and extraordinary event illustrates how vital communication between the MDA teams arriving from the field and the team at Hadassah is – which is commonplace, but important these days,” said Prof. Zev Rothstein, CEO of Hadassah Medical Organization.

*the name has been changed due to confidentiality.

CHW draws inspiration from H.E. Deborah Lyons, Ambassador of Canada to Israel, at an intimate gathering of women, representing organizations advancing social issues- including gender equality, accessibility, and social cohesion- in Israel and around the world. 

Ambassador Lyons with CHW Israel Liaison Rachel Lasry Zahavi

From her official residence in Tel Aviv, Ambassador Lyons addressed the group:

“You have been stepping up to that human condition, to help move us all along in whatever areas you’re working to a better place- as difficult as it may seem sometimes and as frustrating as it might get.”

Having just completed her third year in Israel, Ambassador Lyons has no plans to slow down. Her initial thoughts about retiring- to a life of leisure, gardening, piano playing and cooking- will have to be put on hold for now.

“I think we are being called up in this difficult period we are going through. So, I’m going to stay very active- not just as an Ambassador, but also post Ambassador.”

Despite the important milestones and progress made to advance women’s rights and social issues, Ambassador Lyons shares:

 “When I saw the work of the last 50 years, I was so fueled by it and I was so impressed by it. I was convinced we were getting to such a better place as a world that respected human rights, as a world that recognized and followed a set of laws and norms and that regardless of one’s religion or ethnicity, we followed a certain common understanding of what a good and decent society should be.”

But, as the world became ‘smaller’ with the advancement of fast and cheap transportation along with new communication technologies- “we are literally in each other’s back yards.”

Reflecting on the changes, Ambassador Lyons notes:

“When we go through these huge periods of change, we get a little scared of one another and we wonder about our place is in the world and where we belong.  We also wonder about how the changes will affect us and our children.  And yet, even with everything we know today, we still fall back into those fears.”

Ambassador Lyons shared her thoughts on current social trends and mass migration, where many people are noticing what others have and are willing to risk their lives, travelling thousands of miles, in search of a better life for themselves and their children. 

“You really can’t help but admire them for their unbelievable courage. And yet you can also understand if people feel their arrival is disruptive. Especially if their arrival comes in hundreds of thousands, as it has happened in Europe.” 

Ambassador Lyons acknowledged Israel’s many social challenges and the active civil society that others can learn from. 

“Everything that is happening in the human drama, is happening here with such an amazing intensity.  Israel is made up of over one hundred cultures.  People came from all over the world to create Israel as it is today.  Canada gets this fantastic reputation for being so multicultural and tolerant, but Israel needs to get more recognition for how multicultural and inclusive it is.” 

Ambassador Lyons stressed the need for more women in leadership roles.  “We have to soothe and nurture, stroke and heal and work extra hard to understand and to help respond in a healthy way.”  

Although the challenges may seem daunting, Ambassador Lyons ended with an encouraging message for all the women in the room:

 “I think we’re best when we’re being tested. When we’re up against challenges, a goal and a purpose.  After all, the purpose of life, is a life of purpose.”