THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Israeli Doctors Fight Blindness in Black Africa NEW YORK–Blindness Rwanda, Tanzania, Lesotho among children under age and Swaziland. Since 1974, Israel has five in the Black African re- public of Malawi has been been providing highly so- reduced by more than 90 phisticated training to doc- percent in the 10 years tors from countries where since Israeli physicians ophthalmological services al- launched a remarkable new ready exist. At present, Je- eye-care program in the rusalem is hosting students young nation, according to from Haiti, Cyprus, San Sal- Dr. David Ben-Ezra, an Is- vador and Mexico. raeli eye-specialist who has At the request of several just completed 14 months governments, Israeli ex- working in Malawi. He perts have carried out medi- noted that eye disease was cal surveys on tuberculosis, a particularly serious prob- trachoma, malaria and the lem at gthe time of Israel's prevention of blindness. Stu- independence, but that with- dents from Latin American in a decade Israel had vir- countries are so eager for tually eliminated it within training in rural health serv- rders. ices that courses in Israel 's success served as a are now offered in Spanish. model for Israel's inter- Since 1958, Israel has had national medical coopera- no fewer than 551 medical tion program, which was programs operating in 25 launched at the same time. countries. The ophthalmology project Israel medical personnel alone has provided modem involved in Israel's pro- eye care to 40 million gram of "exporting" health people around the world care play down political fac- over the past 18 years, Dr. tors such as Kenya's deci- Ben-Ezra said. sion to break diplomatic re- Requests for assistance lations with Israel during from other countries—par- the Yom Kippur war—a de- ticularly from independent cision that halted a promis- republics in Africa—led to ing experiment in public Israel's establishing its first health in the Black state. eye-care program in Liber- Israelis prefer to stress ia. Two Israeli eye special- the excellent personal and fists were sent to Liberia to professional ties they have set up a clinic, while two established with developing Liberian nurses and a doc- countries. They report, for for were sent to Jerusalem instance, that a young Eth- liked the people, he told them, and was getting excel- lent training. He saw no rea- son to leave. "In human terms we re- main the best of friends," commented Prof. Hana Zau- berman, current head of sure Invited 20% off •invitations •centetpieces I stationery Phyllis Billes 559-4343 BETTY BLOOM INVITES YOU TO THE . . . . GRAND OPENING THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY 411t eedeftit 94 "IFCIUI\ITAINIBILOCA UCCA" DELI LUNCH ROOM AND CARRY-OUT Champagne and Hors D'Oeuvres Will be Served In The Fountainbloom Room SUNDAY, JUNE 19, Ito 4 p.m. PLEASE JOIN US ON THIS HAPPY OCCASION. LOCATED AT 29267 SOUTHFIELD ROAD AT 121/2 MILE for ophthalmological train- iopian doctor refused to ing. leave Israel during the 1973 The Liberian programs war, despite the closing of later served as a model for the Ethiopian Embassy and Israel's eye-care programs pleas from family and in Ethiopia, Malawi, friends to return home. He IN THE FARRELL SHOPPING PLAZA For Further Information Knesset Organization Debated TEL AVIV (JTA)— DMC. No decisions were Squabbling has begun over reached and the organizing the organization of the next committee will meet again. Knesset, the number of committees and the award- ing of committee chairman-. ships in Israel's first parlia- ment where the Labor Alignment will sit in opposi- tion. A special Knesset organiz- ing committee held hear- ings on these subjects and voices were raised in opposi- tion to a Likud proposal to establish a committee for world Jewish affairs. r The objectors said that such a committee would create the impression that Israel was trying to inter- vene in the internal affairs of communities . abroad. There is also a dispute over Likud's proposal to have -11 Knesset committees. The Labor Alignment wants nine, as in the previous Knessets. the Hadassah-Hebrew Uni- versity Eye Department. "And we think this is an ex- cellent link for the future. Political situations change, but personal and profes- sional ties remain per- manent." Friday, June 10, 1977 29 Call BETTY BLOOM \ 559-6776 . AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES • • (My dad's zrncipter thon his cloihet 0+ DOUG HOFFMAIS. • Likud wants five com- mittee. chairmanships and poses three for Labor one each for the Demo- atic Movement for Change (DMC), the Nation- al Religious Party (NRP) and the Aguda Israel. The Rakah Communists, who - will have five seats in the next Knesset against the . Aguda's four, are demand- ing equal treatment. They said they would boycott all Knesset committees if they are not given a chairman- ship. The Labor Alignment pro- posed four Likud chairman- ships, three for itself and one each for the NRP. and.. This Father's Day make sure your dad looks as smart as he is. Doug Hoffman Ltd. — Specializing in fine European & domestic clothing for ladies and gentlemen. , • New Orleans Mall 15600 W. 10 Mile 115 S. Woodward Ave. Birmingham • 642-5630 Southfield • 557-3313 doug hoffniOn LTD