Episcopal Church's aid enables Yemen's eye clinic to attend to every patient requiring medical attention
The Ras Morbat Eye Clinic, a ministry of the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, has been serving the people of Yemen since 1996. Located on the compound of Christ Church in Aden, the clinic has been providing eye care services to all who need them, regardless of their ability to pay.
Operational costs of the clinic are covered by funds from parishes and individuals, with additional support coming from the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. The Episcopal Church has also pledged some funding for the new priest's appointment and the resumption of worship services at Christ Church. This support, provided through Resolution B002 introduced to the 80th General Convention, will also enable the clinic to hire a third ophthalmologist and medical director for the next three years.
The clinic's services range from basic eye exams and eyeglass prescriptions to complex procedures like cataract surgery. It employs two Muslim women ophthalmologists, reflecting its commitment to serving all, irrespective of status or religion. The clinic's location on Christ Church's compound symbolizes this Anglican commitment.
The civil war in Yemen, which started in 2014, has taken a heavy toll on the country. An estimated 244,000 people have died, at least 4 million have been forced to flee their homes, and the situation has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. Despite the challenges, the Ras Morbat Eye Clinic has remained operational, closing only for two months during the height of the fighting.
During this time, members of the church's congregation, mostly English-speaking expatriates, left Yemen, and the diocese removed clergy from the church for their safety. However, the local residents held the clinic in high regard and protected it during the civil war in 2015, as stated by the Ven. Christopher Futcher, the diocese's archdeacon based in Cyprus.
Melodie Woerman, a freelance writer and former director of communications for the Diocese of Kansas, is advocating for more people to be involved with the ministries in the region. She urges Episcopalians to remember the people of Yemen and their need for help, as the situation in Yemen has been overlooked compared to other conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine.
The diocese is also planning to appoint a new priest for Christ Church, allowing worship services to resume there. The financing for hiring the third ophthalmologist and the Medical Director at the Ras Morbat Eye Clinic was provided by Professor Essam K. Al Sibaei.
The Ras Morbat Eye Clinic continues to be a beacon of hope in a region plagued by crisis, demonstrating the power of community, faith, and compassion to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
