On Saturday 7 June HE Prime Minister Professor Rami Hamdallah inaugurated the An-Najah National University Hospital.

Dr. Amer, Hospital President, welcomed the attendees and thanked HE Prime Minister for his support in helping to establish the Hospital and supporting its development to what it is today. He also talked about the various systems operating in the different departments and the nature of work across the Hospital.

Dr. Amer stated his hope that the Hospital becomes a standard bearer for educational excellence and that it becomes a vital medical and scientific resource in the region and the world. To this end he stressed that the Hospital is based on sound international scientific standards.

Mr. Al-Masri, Chair of the Board of Trustees, thanked the attendees for participating in this festive inauguration, noting that attendees were witnesses of the greatness of An-Najah University’s achievements and dreams realised.

He went also said:

 “I cannot overstate the difficulties in establishing a university hospital as great as An-Najah’s; unless you were involved in the construction, processing and work costs. And the University administration, led by HE Prime Minister Prof. Rami Hamdallah, was up to this challenge and responsibility.”

Mr. Al-Masri also said that:

“HE Prime Minister Prof. Rami Hamdallah took a courageous decision in creating this university hospital; he gave it his time and effort, and was the rightly entrusted, and the very best in following up on this project. His decision was as brave as the man who made it. The University President back then went to donors inside and outside of Palestine to collect donations. And Prof. Hamdallah managed to gain peoples’ trust and secure the necessary funds and initiate work. Construction costs reached more than thirty-five million Jordanian Dinars, plus the distinctive medical staff, dispatching distinguished students to obtain their higher degrees in various disciplines.”

He added that:

“Here is the Hospital we are inaugurating today, thanks to the sincerest and blessed efforts is the first of its kind in Palestine, and perhaps the newest equipped in the region”.

He finally concluded that:

“Let me take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to HE Prime Minister on his magnificent efforts in serving An-Najah University and this Hospital, reflecting the depth of his affiliation and originality. Thanks are also due to those University staff, and donors and sponsors of the Hospital.”

The Minister of Health congratulated the Palestinian people on the grand inauguration of this Hospital, which adds Palestine to the medical services prestige of the country, following up on the top findings of the world in this field.

Prof. Hamdallah, delivering his HE President Mahmoud Abbas speech, said that:

”HE President Mahmoud Abbas, assigned me to attend this inauguration on his behalf and to convey to you his admiration of this medical achievement; that is a pride of the nation. President Mahmoud Abbas recognises the great efforts of all those in charge of completing this Hospital, so that it becomes the first in terms of the highly trained medical staff, latest devices in the world and medical services that cover most of the chronic and incurable diseases, which we need and currently send our patients to other hospitals at Home and abroad.”

He went on adding that:

“This medial educational monument is the first in Palestine to be a culmination of substantial efforts made by the loyal honourable men of this country, with the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the University, the University President at the time and workforce, each in his/ her position. And I know that this project was impossible to achieve, yet, the will and determination of those in charge, were powerful and larger than the hardships and obstacles.” “Work was conducted regardless of the Occupation, siege and lack of financial resources. However, work was successfully accomplished in record time. And here is the Hospital today with its departments and divisions to prove to the world that the Palestinians can carve the stone and make their way despite the difficulties to reach to the top, and compete in defiance of those with money and sovereignty.

“The Hospital could never have been completed without the determination and will of those in charge of the University. They had faith, communicated with our people at home and abroad to get donations, and financial and moral support. Hence, let me extend my thanks and appreciation for everyone, who supported this hospital. We should put their names in the honour lists that decorate the Hospital, and in the records of the VIPs An-Najah will honour throughout history.”

Prof. Hamdallah said that: “I am confident that the Palestinians have the competencies and technical, medical and scientific expertise to enable them to manage and develop to become a unique medical monument in the Middle East. To prove to the world that we are a nation capable of giving and achieving; we do not know the impossible, nor do we hesitate in achieving what we want and we do not know despair, where we find hope.”

Furthermore, “As An-Najah University inaugurates this Hospital, it notes this achievement for the steadfast and patient people, in fulfillment of our righteous martyrs’ sacrifices and agonies of our courageous prisoners. This momentum is a substitute for medical needs of our people at home and abroad. It reduces the financial, psychological and social burden of the patients, who deserve all care and attention. Also to show our respect to the humans, whom we cherish the most on this earth.” He finally concluded, “Congratulations to our people on this brilliant medical attainment; congratulations to An-Najah University on this successful accomplishment. I hope achievements and giving continue, to be always in the ranks of those who deserve life, on an earth that is worth living and is worthy of our tender; a homeland that is powerful for her loyal sons to work and build on the foundations that achieve justice and equality for all”.

At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Nabulsi and Dr. Amer honoured HE Prime Minister and Minister of Health on their tireless efforts in supporting the Hospital.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister, Mr Al-Masri and Minister of Health cut the ribbon. Then HE was toured around the Hospital and visited a number of patients.

Notes:

-       The inauguration was attended by Mr Sabeeh Al-Masri, Chair of the Board of Trustees, along with the members of the Board; Professor Maher Natsheh, Acting President of An-Najah National University; vice presidents and assistants: Dr. Jawad Awwad, Minister of Health; Lieutenant Akram Al-Rujoub, Governor of Nablus; Dr. Riyad Amer, Hospital President, with the members of the Hospital Board of Trustees; a number of ministers, officials in the Palestinian Authority, directors of several public and private hospitals in the West Bank; and representatives of the official and civil institutions and security chiefs in the governorate.

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