wfn.org | Jerusalem: New Chief Executive for LWF-run Hospital

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Caring for Refugees from Palestinian Territories

JERUSALEM/GENEVA, 2 June 2001 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation
(LWF)-run hospital in East Jerusalem has a new chief executive officer, Dr.
Tawfiq Nasser.

The Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) Board of Directors announced this
decision at its meeting, May 18-19. Effective 1 June 2001, Nasser took over
from Mr. Craig Kippels who served as chief executive officer since June
1997. Kippels remains the LWF representative in Jerusalem, responsible for
the Department for World Service (DWS) program there.

The AVH board chairperson, Bishop Munib A. Younan of the LWF member-church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan, noted that Nasser's appointment was
made with LWF's approval. This shows "the high esteem in which Dr. Nasser is
held" and expresses "our strong confidence" in his ability to lead the
hospital, said Younan, himself Palestinian.

Nasser previously held the position of Chief Operations Officer and
Administrator, AVH. In his new position he will be in charge of the
day-to-day management, and work with the Board of Directors on strategic
direction and future development of the hospital, in addition to continuing
responsibility for hospital operations.

Nasser has a Ph D in bio-medical science and health services administration
from Old Dominion University, Virginia, USA. He worked for Sentara Health
Systems in the USA, at Bir Zeit University and at Arab Care Medical Services
in Ramallah.

The LWF has administered the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem
since early 1997. The hospital employs about 160 Palestinian doctors,
nurses, technicians and other staff members, around 130 of whom come from
the West Bank. AVH comprises a general hospital, an ear, nose and throat
clinic and other specialized units including the only pediatric dialysis
center in the West Bank. In cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, AVH
is responsible for the treatment of Palestinian refugees.

The AVH is a project of the LWF/DWS Jerusalem program. What is today the
hospital located on the Mount of Olives, was dedicated in 1910 as part of
the Empress Augusta Victoria Foundation, named after the last German
empress, the wife of Emperor William II. The foundation complex also
includes the Church of the Ascension in Jerusalem. The foundation was used
for only four years for its original purpose, as a pilgrims' hostel, holiday
and rest home and community center. At the beginning of World War I it came
under military occupation, and served as the headquarters of the respective
powers over Palestine until the building was severely damaged by an
earthquake in 1927. The hostel building was used for the first time as a
hospital during World War II.

After the founding of the state of Israel in 1948, AVH was placed under
LWF's trusteeship in 1950. By agreement and in close cooperation with the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which took over
responsibility for Palestinian refugees from the Red Cross, AVH mainly cares
for refugees from Palestinian territories. Around 75 per cent of the
patients come from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 131 member
churches in 72 countries representing over 60.2 million of the nearly 64
million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches
in areas of common interest such as ecumenical relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various
aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material presented does
not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units.
Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material
may be freely reproduced with acknowledgement.]

*       *       *
LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
PO Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Editor's e-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
Tel: (41.22) 791.63.54
Fax: (41.22) 791.66.30
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Articles/EN/LWI