Following the political changes in the former Soviet Union, the newly
independent CIS republics opened their gates, increasing their
accessibility to the western world and allowing the transfer of knowledge
among countries. New commercial and technological relationships were
established and the transfer of knowledge encompassed many fields. One of
the areas in which the CIS countries were interested in receiving training
from Israel was in the field of nursing. Israel has an important relative
advantage in the high level of its health services and in the large number
of Russian-speaking health workers, Jewish immigrants from the former
Soviet Union who have arrived in Israel in recent years and received
training here in various aspects of medicine.
In a special survey concerning nursing in the CIS countries conducted by
the MASHAV, the Centre for International Cooperation of the Israeli
Foreign Ministry, representatives from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and
Kyrgystan and the professional Kupat Holim (the largest Israeli health
fund) staff, it became clear that there was a great need for training in
the areas of: child and family health; health education; patient
guidance; and administration of patient care. Following a visit of a
delegation to those three countries, it was decided to offer a special
course for nurses on these topics, conducted under the auspices MASHAV
and Kupat Holim. The Netherlands co-financed the course and the Kaplan
Nursing School in Rehovot was in charge of planning and organizing.
The course was planned for 30 nurses, 10 from each country, chosen by the
Nursing School in conjunction with professional government officials in the
respective countries. The first group of 19 nurses from Kazakhstan and
Kyrgystan landed before dawn on November 3, 1994, followed by a second
group on 9 nurses who arrived the following day. A warm reception welcomed
all 28 Muslim participants who were very tired after a long 24 hour flight
and a bit uncertain about the idea of training in a foreign country. A
translator accompanied the participants throughout their stay in Israel.
The course itself started the day following their arrival. The first two
days were devoted to communication, getting acquainted and social
consolidation among the three different groups, with the guidance of
professionals in the field. The first study issue on the agenda was
child and family health in the hospital and in the community, with
lecturers from the Nursing School, community nurses, paediatric and
obstetric hospital nurses and paediatric doctors, all of them Russian
speakers. The studies included practical clinical experience in Kaplan
Hospital children's wards and delivery rooms, Kupat Holim's community
clinics and local kibbutz clinics.
During the course the participants showed high motivation and a lively
interest in the program. An atmosphere of work and cooperation reigned in
the class alongside with a true desire for acquiring knowledge. Aspects of
nursing covered included: the nursing process; problem solving; involvement
of nurses in the decision making process regarding the care of patients and
their families; organizing care for specific groups; team work and first
aid care; planning study programs.
The nurses' stay in Israel included a social aspect: After class they
enjoyed get togethers and entertainment, special lectures and movies, as
well as tours around the country during free days (Saturdays and Sundays).
Professional tours were organized as well to the new Beilinson Children's
Hospital and to the joint Kupat Holim and hospital clinics.
During the 45 days the participants were with us, we learned to know and
love them. The warmth and appreciation they showed us was wonderful. Their
curiosity and desire to learn, to give and receive, made this intense
period a very interesting one. The participants used every opportunity to
express their appreciation for our contribution and efforts, and were
grateful to their countries for giving them this opportunity to learn
new aspects of nursing outside their borders.
Given the great success of this course and of two on-the-spot courses
offered abroad by the Nursing School teachers, two more courses were
offered in 1996: one for CIS nurses on "Care of the child and his family in
the community," and the second for nurses and doctors from Asia, Africa and
Latin America on "Primary medicine."
Kazakhstani Children Operated on at Soroka Medical Centre of the Negev
Six children from Kazakhstan who suffered from congenital facial birth
defects (such as cleft palate) arrived in Israel in December, 1996, for
plastic surgery at Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheva. The children could
not be treated for their problems in Kazakhstan and Soroka's Department of
Plastic Surgery is known for its success in such corrective surgeries.
The foundation for Kazakhstani children, Bobek, founded by the First Lady
of Kazakhstan, Mrs. Nazerbayev, the Kazakhstan Embassy in Israel, the
Metek Co. of Tel Technology, Ltd. (building distilleries and developing
oil fields in Kazakhstan), the Department of International Relations of
the National General Health Fund (Kupat Holim), and Soroka Medical
Centre organized a campaign whose goal is to help Kazakhstani children.
The first group of six children arrived at the Plastic Surgery Unit of
Soroka which specializes in, among other things, correcting birth defects.
The continuation of the treatment is in Israel and thereafter in
Kazakhstan. The doctors of the Soroka Plastic Surgery Unit frequently
travel in the summer to Kazakhstan in order to operate and also to train
local doctors. The aim of the program is to train Kazakhstani teams to
treat children in their own country.