President of Kosovo inaugurates Sheikha Fatima Children Hospital and Surgical Centre in Pristina

Vjosa Osmani, President of Kosovo, yesterday inaugurated the Sheikha Fatima Children Hospital and Surgical Centre in Pristina, in the presence of Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo, and Arben Vitia, Minister of Health of Kosovo.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi, Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, and Nabila Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Montenegro and non-Resident Ambassador to Republic of Kosovo, also attended the ceremony.

The hospital’s construction took place with a generous donation by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), the "Mother of the UAE," as part of her international initiatives.

The paediatric hospital, which is the first of its kind in Kosovo, provides comprehensive healthcare for mothers and children through various specialised clinics and diagnostic departments, in addition to Emergency Medicine.

The hospital was built within the campus of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, who will be managing the new Children’s Hospital in its capacity as the country’s sole medical university. Located within a spacious and central department within the campus, the new hospital building is connected to the Obstetrics and Paediatrics departments in the university. It is fully equipped with advanced medical equipment including Intensive Care Units (ICU), Radiology and Procedure rooms.

Commencing the opening ceremony, the Kosovan President gave a speech in which she expressed her thanks and appreciation to the UAE and its leadership for their continued assistance of the people of Kosovo, especially during challenging times. Furthermore, she emphasised that the UAE’s unwavering support reflects the highest form of human solidarity.

She reinforced her appreciation for Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak whose efforts were instrumental to the construction of the hospital, making it the largest humanitarian project in Kosovo focused on enhancing the quality of healthcare for children. The hospital’s opening also comes at a critical time when the spread of the COVID-19 virus is placing an additional strain on healthcare resources in Kosovo.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo stated that the hospital exemplifies the UAE and its wise leadership’s generosity and humanitarianism. He applauded the UAE’s support of nations and communities worldwide, underscoring that the support is greatly appreciated by the people of Kosovo, who are deeply grateful towards the UAE and Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for her noble work.

He added that the Republic of Kosovo and the UAE’s long-standing relationship undoubtedly grow stronger with the ongoing cooperation and collaboration between the two nations.

This was followed by a speech from Chairman of the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi, in which he delivered the greetings of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and wished prosperity and progress to the people of Kosovo on her behalf.

He further stressed that this hospital comes as an extension from Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, to support and assist children in various regions of the world grounded in the firm belief that providing stronger healthcare services for children allows them to progress and develop more positively and sustainably.

Al Hamed added that the hospital is a fully equipped facility offering various specialities that treat multiple diseases that children might suffer from in Kosovo. The project reflects the interest of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to provide healthcare for children and expresses the depth of relations between the UAE and the Republic of Kosovo.

He said that the hospital comes within the framework of the UAE's international humanitarian and development efforts. The project reflects the UAE's established values and close ties with various countries from around the world, it also embodies the "Fifty Principles" Document and highlights the UAE's civilised and humanitarian journey in a way that emphasises the existence of common values between different nations such as tolerance, peace, and humanity.

The Minister of Health of Kosovo, thanked the UAE and its leadership for their support, further stressing the major effect this hospital has on strengthening the already existing relations between the UAE and the Republic of Kosovo. He added that Sheikha Fatima hospital will be a great help in improving healthcare in Kosovo for mothers and children.

Dr. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of the State, commended the continuous generosity demonstrated by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima for the opening of the hospital in Kosovo, which provides full healthcare for both mothers and children while minimizing the mortality rates due to the well-equipped facilities.

She further highlighted how the hospital is an extension of the humanitarian vision of Sheikha Fatima and her passion for restoring a good life for those in need.

The hospital is built upon an area of 11,000 square metres and consisted of four floors and 109 beds. Services provided include all specialities of paediatrics, paediatric cardiology and paediatric surgery, including emergency medicine and oncology.

The hospital’s emergency department will be receiving aall types of medical cases including minor and major injuries and will have an operating room attached to it. The hospital will have outpatient clinics (internal medicine, surgery, and oncology), that in total contain 14 consultation rooms.

He also stated that the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) includes 44 beds, while the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) includes 12 beds, in addition to the surgical department, which has four operating rooms equipped with the latest medical devices, as well as the endoscopy and day surgery department, that includes 3 operating rooms and 8 beds in the observation area.

The hospital includes two attached departments, surgery and oncology, constituting 38 beds, in addition to the paediatric imaging department; radiology, which includes computerised tomography, x-rays, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, central sterilisation unit and other key medical support services.