UAE, WHO sign $25m agreement for Al Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem

The UAE has signed a $25m cooperation agreement to support Al Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem.

The agreement was signed under the directives of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, official news agency WAM reported.

It comes as part of the UAE’s efforts to support the medical and healthcare sectors in Palestine in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and in coordination with the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).

?NEWS: As part of efforts to strengthen the health sector in #Palestine??, the #UAE & @WHO have signed a $25M cooperation agreement in support of Al Makassed Hospital in East #Jerusalem, which will benefit 130k people seeking health services.
?https://t.co/WfMpFAQvEl@MoFAICUAE

— WHO in occupied Palestinian territory (@WHOoPt) October 17, 2022

Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, assistant minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation for international development affairs, said that the signing of the agreement reflects the UAE’s commitment to the Palestinian people in meeting their humanitarian needs, especially in the health sector.

At Al Makassed Hospital in particular, it is expected that more than 130,000 people will benefit from its health services, the statement added.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that health is not a luxury, but a human right, and it is central to development,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general.

“We thank the UAE for its generous donation, leading role, and commitment to improving the delivery of quality health services for the Palestinian people.”

Lynn Hastings, United Nations resident coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, thanked the UAE government for its generous support. It will help ensure the continuity of essential health services by Al Makassed Hospital, which is an important part of the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, she added.

Founded in 1968, the hospital started off as a 60-bed unit and has since expanded to 250 beds. It offers a range of services covering internal medicine, and general and specialty surgery, among others. Al Makassed also serves as a main teaching/training hospital in association with Al-Quds University and Palestinian, Jordanian and Arab Medical Councils and provides research facilities, according to its website.