MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Yitzchak Pindrus on Sunday visited MDA Dispatch Headquarters in Kiryat Ono, where he was shown the EMS organization’s technological capabilities as well as being briefed on its operations and the level of professionalism maintained by employees and volunteers alike.

Pindrus was impressed by the progress and development of the organization as Israel’s national rescue service, even though the organization does not receive a state budget. Pindrus received an explanation of MDA’s national volunteer system, with more than 20 chareidi-affiliated NGO first-response organizations, working nationwide to provide a pre-hospital medical response in cases of emergency.

Among those hosting Pindrus’ visit was MDA Chief of Operations Eli Bin, along with senior organization commanders and management, as well as Hatzolah leaders Avraham Reichman, Ushi Slomowitz and Yaakov Joseph.

Pindrus was given a tour of the integrated national dispatch center, as well as a tour of numerous response and rescue vehicles. Today, MDA operates about 1,200 basic life support and advanced life support ambulances in addition to some 650 first-response motorcycles, electric bicycles, jet skis, response boats and helicopters.

Officials also explained the ‘My MDA’ app for persons to download, permitting one to contact an emergency dispatcher with a push of a button, thereby providing the dispatcher with critical personal information, medical history, as well as the caller’s location.

Pindrus commented, “I do not know of an organization in Israel that has done what MDA has done in the past decade, an organization that has advanced, developed and found a solution to every problem that has come to its doorstep. This is the beauty of the Jewish people, the desire to assist one another and to volunteer. This is the beauty found in MDA, and it is certainly impressive. The level of service and treatment that every citizen of Israel receives today in times of distress, when one calls MDA, is very high. I will do everything in my power to help the organization. Go forth and succeed!”

Chief Bin thanked his guest for taking the time to visit the Dispatch Command Center, where calls from the entire country are routed in milliseconds if a local dispatcher is busy. This permits calls to be handled nationwide without delay.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)