Malben, the special organization to care for handicapped immigrants in Israel now has 2,500 persons under institutional care, and hopes (##) have an additional 2,000 by mid 1951, it was reported today by Charles Passman, (##)cutive director of the welfare organization and J.D.C. director for the Middle (##) at the J.D.C. country director’s conference here.
Mr. Passman said that Malben is giving top priority to providing suitable care (##) immigrants with tuberculosis, since inadequate help to such newcomers might en(##)ger large sections of the population of Israel. He reported that when Malben be(##) its operations a year ago, under the combined sponsorship of the J.D.C., the Jewish Agency and the Government of Israel, only 300 beds were available in all Israeli (##)titutions for tuberculars.
Since that time, Mr. Pasman said, Malben has made another 500 beds available, and by the end of 1951 should be caring for 2,000 tuberculars. He expressed the be(##)f that when this goal is reached the TB problem in Israel will be under control.
At the same time, Mr. Passman reported that Malben has set up a unique village for blind immigrants, at Gedera, Israel. Here 40 families are now living–all fully (##)-supporting. The sightless newcomers are taught skills by which they can earn their own livelihoods before being moved to Gedera.
Other activities conducted by Malben include an old-age program serving 700 persons. Two new Malben homes alons house 370 aged persons and facilities are (##)anned to aid 1,000. Malben also provides prosthetic devices for the disabled, and is helping a number of retarded children.
Malben came into being in 1949 when the J.D.C., Jewish Agency and Israel Government established a $15,000,000 fund to furnish proper social service care for (##)ndicapped displaced persons and other immigrants. The I.R.O. contributed an additional sum of $2,500,000. Harold Goldenberg, formerly an outstanding American Jewish (##)ader, who has moved to Israel, is chairman of the Malben board.
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