Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive, genetic, multi-system disease to which there is no cure. In Israel, there are some 350,000 CF carriers and 650 patients, half of which are children.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Israel emotionally and financially supports all the CF patients in Israel as well as their families. Given the progressive nature of their disease, CF patients require intensive and time consuming daily treatments that include lung drainage, inhalation, medication and daily physiotherapy sessions. Due to the high risk of infection from other diseases, CF patients are frequently hospitalized for short term intensive treatments. Cystic Fibrosis patients have to undergo daily treatment that last 4 hours and include taking 50 different kinds of medications.
While medical and technological advancements have substantially increased the life expectancy of CF patients, from an average of eight years in 1974 to thirty in 2000 and 37 today, the disease still imposes considerable emotional stress and health burden on patients which often feel excluded from society and therefore experience poor quality of life.
Founded in 1967 by parents of children diagnosed with CF, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Israel was established in order to create a support network for CF patients that would assist in the acquisition of medical equipment, offer psychological support and ensure adequate medical treatment. These were seen by the founders as measures that would increase the life expectancy of CF patients, improve their quality of life and enable them to live rich and full lives.
Despite State recognition of Cystic Fibrosis as a chronic illness , special treatments, medications and other essential needs are only partially supplied by the State (through the Ministry of Health) and by the Israeli HMO programs (Sick Funds). The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Israel fills this gap by providing funding for the following:
- Lung transplants – support before and after surgery, including the establishment and operation of a special transplant clinic for CF patients.
- The CFFI established and currently operates 6 multi-disciplinary CF clinics in hospitals throughout Israel.
- Acquisition of medical equipment and accessory medical treatment: Para-medical assistance, psychosocial support and physiotherapy.
- Educational assistance for children who cannot attend school due to hospitalization: tutoring during hospitalization, enrichment programs, virtual study groups and more.
- Support workshops and maintenance of virtual support groups for CF patients and their families.
- Programs focusing on physical exercise, including the purchasing of exercising equipment.
- Financial assistance for medication and food supplements not found in the health-care packages.
- The financial aid offered by our foundation is of vital importance as 30% of the CF patients in Israel belong to the lower socio-economic segment of society and 20% of the families live at below the poverty line. The CFFI supports families from all segments of the Israeli society including minorities.
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The CFFI is the is the only organization in Israel dedicated to improving the quality of life and well being of CF patients across all age groups. CF patients strive to lead normal lives and to take part in the various aspects of life including work, parenthood and leisure activities. We at the CFFI enable them to do just that.
The CFFI is a nonprofit organization and is a registered charity in good standing with recognition from the Income Tax Authorities that provides its Israeli donors with a tax credit. We are also beneficiaries of PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc., a United States 501c3 organization, and receive tax deductible donations in the U.S. through PEF.
