Rumailah Hospital celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Rumailah Hospital marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by organizing a celebration for patients and their families in the hospital garden. The event was organized by RH’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Social Services Department, and the Patient and Visitors Service Center.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is held on 3 December each year and is an opportunity to raise public awareness of the efforts to care for people with disabilities. In line with the event’s theme 'Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities', the activities were aimed at promoting the integration of people with disabilities in society.

Present at the event were Ms. Elizabeth Thiebe, Acting CEO of Rumailah Hospital; Dr. Wafaa Al Yazeedi, Chairperson of HMC’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department; Mr. Osama Abdulhadi Hassan, Assistant Executive Director for Support Services at RH; and Mr. Gisli Einarsson, CEO of Qatar Rehabilitation Institute. The event was also attended by medical, nursing and public relations staff members at Rumailah Hospital.

The celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims at fostering positive relationships between patients and their families and staff members, which can eventually help with the successful implementation of their treatment plans. The celebration activities were designed to entertain and bring joy to the participants. It also provided an opportunity to encourage the integration of people with disabilities in the community.  

A number of students from Bhavan's Indian Public School participated in the event by performing several folkloric shows and traditional dances. The event also included a number of cultural and fun activities for patients, such as a drawing competition and chess games.  

The celebration complemented a similar event organized by RH’s Special Education Department and attended by their patients, the children’s families, and patients from the hospital’s Adult Rehabilitation Program, at Bayt Al Dhiyafah in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City. School students were also invited to perform and participate in fun activities. Staff members from HMC’s Health Professions Awareness and Volunteering Program participated in the event as well.

Narjes Suleiman, Head of the Special Education Department at RH delivered a speech at the event, in which she highlighted the continued efforts of the State of Qatar for people with disabilities, such as entering into international agreements and adopting legislations to protect their rights. She also highlighted the role of many other organizations and entities in caring for people with disabilities. The event featured a large array of fun activities and art competitions aimed at integrating children with special education needs with their peers from other schools, as well as at promoting their full and effective participation in society.