Emirates Red Crescent inaugurates 'Umm Al Emarat' Hospital in Comoros

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) Authority inaugurated the Umm Al Emarat Hospital for mothers and children at the island of Moheli as part of several development projects implemented in cooperation with the UAE Embassy in Moroni to aid those affected by the Cyclone Kenneth, which struck the Republic of the United Comoro Islands four years ago.

This comes under the directives of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), Mother of the Nation, and Honorary President of the Emirates Red Crescent, and the follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the ERC.

The hospital’s opening ceremony was attended by Othman Ghazali, President of the Republic of the United Comoro Islands, and several ministers in his government; Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State; Saeed Mohamed Al Maqbali, UAE Ambassador to the Comoros; Hamoud Abdullah Al Junaibi, ERC Secretary-General; and several officials from both sides.

Nearly 20,000 residents of the island will benefit from the hospital, which aims to support the health sector, enhance its capabilities and improve its services for the benefit of the people there. The hospital consists of various vital facilities, including wards, and dedicated departments for intensive care, natural childbirth, surgeries, anaesthesia, sterilisation and NICU, as well as administration offices and restrooms for doctors, nurses and medical staff.

Addressing the ceremony, Al Shamsi conveyed the greetings of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, to the government and people of Comoros, and her sincere and heartfelt wishes for progress and prosperity to the country.

"It is our pleasure to meet today for the opening of this hospital, which reflects the long-standing relations between the two brotherly peoples of the UAE and the Comoros," the minister said.

For his part, Al-Junaibi said the hospital adds to the UAE's humanitarian track record of achievements in Comoros, which covered various fields, including health, education, social services, housing, and others. "Today, we are moving up to another phase, namely providing healthcare services for mothers and children."

The officials and people of Comoros expressed their thanks to H.H. Sheikha Fatima for her noble initiatives, expressing their sincere appreciation for the UAE and its wise leadership for its unwavering support The ERC had previously inaugurated the first phase of reconstruction projects in the Comoros, which included establishing and revamping 12 schools as part of its initiatives to support the education sector.