The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) at An-Najah University concluded the activities of the NORPAL SAWA 2011 Project in an official ceremony that was held at the University. Attendees included members in the Deanship of the Faculty of Medicine at An-Najah, members of the faculty staff, members of the IFMSA, the Norwegian delegation, in addition to several key figures and supporters of the Project.

Omar Abu Zaideh, Coordinator of the IFMSA Project, welcomed the attendees to the celebration and called Dr. Khalil Isa, Assistant Dean for Clinical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine to deliver his speech. In his speech, Dr. Isa welcomed the Norwegian delegation and emphasized the close relationship between Palestine and Norway. He also spoke about the development of the Faculty of Medicine at An-Najah, the activities it organizes and the advanced level it attained over the last years.

Dr. Waleed Basha, Head of the Microbiology and Immunology Department at An-Najah’s Faculty of Medicine and Coordinator of the IFMSA’s affairs, expressed his admiration by the ability of the IFMSA’s members and the Faculty’s students to implement such internationally significant events and the different similar student exchange programs. He also said the Faculty will continue to make more achievements in the future.

Glenn, one of the Norwegian students participating in the Project, spoke on behalf of the Norwegian delegation and expressing his pleasure to be in Palestine and cooperate with his fellow Palestinians. He also spoke about the great success that was achieved through the Project and praised the huge potential that the students of An-Najah have which enabled them to execute such a large-scale project. He hoped that the Project would be organized again next year.

Following that, the Organizing Committee ran a documentary about the Project prepared by the students, Hazim Abu Halawa and Lubna Malhis which explained the different phases of this Project.

Finally, souvenirs and shields were presented to the official figures and supporters of the Project in addition to certificates for the participating students.

The Project was a new experience for the IFMSA which included ten Norwegian students who study in different countries including Norway, Australia, Slovakia and Poland, in addition to ten students from the Faculty of Medicine at An-Najah. The participating students worked together for one month in Nablus on a variety of activities and issues including: The Palestinian cause, its history, the difficult conditions in which the Palestinians live, the reality of the health status in Palestine, as well as the difficulties that the Palestinian medical staff encountered during the Uprising (Intifada).

The Norwegian students also presented gave several lectures to the Palestinian students through which they familiarized them with Norway, its history, civilization, the famous tourist destinations and landmarks there. The students also visited a number of historical places in Nablus, joined training at the different hospitals in the city and participated in a summer camp in Balata Refugee Camp.