First Mobile Children Hospital Launched

The UAE's "Giving" Campaign, an initiative to provide free health care for 1 million children around the world, has launched the world's first field children hospital.

The hospital is funded by a grant from H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union & Supreme President of the Family Development and President of the Higher Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and upon an initiative by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and President of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA).

Director General of the General Women Union Noura Al Suwaidi said H.H. Sheikha Fatima, the "Mother of the Nation" has a keen interest in providing all the support to make the hospital a successful contribution to the local and international efforts to alleviate the suffering of children worldwide.

"Sheikha Fatima's generous donation helped organisers of the world's first humanitarian field hospital to provide treatment and health care for one million underprivileged children worldwide," Al Suwaidi added.

Dr. Adel Al Shameri, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative and Executive Director of Emirates Global Humanitarian Mobile Hospital (Elaj) said the 120-bed hospital consists of specialised wards for paediatrics, gynaecology, emergency, surgery, intensive care units etc where a team of 50 doctors, technicians and other staff are set to work.

H.H Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has donated AED10 million for an international humanitarian campaign announced last May by the UAE to treat one million children in the UAE and around the world.

Sheikha Fatima's donation was announced Saturday, 4 September 2010, in a charity ceremony held under her patronage at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi to raise donations for the "Giving" Campaign which was announced last May by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Arab Giving Forum and the 3rd Abu Dhabi Social Responsibility Conference.

- WAM