Sudanese Health Minister launches first operational phase of Zayed Heart Humanitarian Mobile Hospital

Sudanese Health Minister launches first operational phase of Zayed Heart Humanitarian Mobile Hospital KHARTOUM, 15th May, 2016 (WAM) -- Sudanese Health Minister Dr. Sumaya Idris yesterday launched the operational phase of the Zayed Heart Humanitarian Mobile Hospital in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to deliver diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic and preventive services to needy heart patients, particularly children and elderly people. A joint humanitarian project between the Zayed Giving Initiative, the Saudi-German Hospital and Dar Al Ber Society in collaboration with the Sudanese ministries of health and social security and Sudan Volunteer Centre, the state-of-the-art hospital is the first of its kind in the world to conduct open heart and cardiac catheterisation surgeries. Organisers said similar facilities will be set up in other countries in Africa. Dr. Sumaya said the Zayed Giving Initiative had set an innovative, trend-setting model to provide practical solutions to reduce spread of cardiac diseases and ease the suffering of patients who could not afford the high cost of treatment in many parts of the world. She paid tribute to the UAE leadership, represented by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for the humanitarian initiatives being implemented by UAE voluntary organisations in different countries. ''The UAE is at the forefront of international aid providers to needy people, following the legacy of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan,'' she added. Hisham Al Reyda, Head of Sudan Volunteer Centre, said services of the mobile hospital will be of paramount importance to patients living in remote areas where there are no specialist hospitals. He said the current medical mission followed a previous tour of Sudan during which 25 medical camps were organised across the country. ''The hospital will deliver a paradigm shift in the quality of treatment received by thousands of poor cardiac patients,'' he added. Dr. Reem Othman, Ambassador of Humanitarian Work, said the number of medical teams would be increased gradually. The second phase, she stated, will see the opening of the cardiac care unit while the third will have the 50-bed hospital fully operational. Emirati Heart Surgeon Dr. Adel Al Shamri, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative, said more than 105 surgeries had been conducted in the trial phase by a joint team of Emirati, French and Sudanese cardiologists. The mobile hospital, he added, has advanced medical equipment for open heart surgeries and catheterisation. He added that it also provides curative, surgical, preventive and training services. Dr. Al Shamri said the heart surgeries for needy patients are conducted free of charge, noting that over 7,000 heart surgeries have been conducted so far in various countries. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-international-aid/1395295464706.html