Students of RCSI Bahrain volunteered in Jordan as part of the university’s International Community Engagement programme to support surgeries for paediatric refugee patients.

Mr Usama AlDallal and Ms Norhan Shaykhon, both medicine Senior Cycle One students, and Ms Maria Solida and Ms Yosra AlJowder, both Nursing Year Three students, joined an expert surgical team from King Hamad University Hospital and Operation Childlife at the Jordanian Red Crescent Hospital in Amman, Jordan. The volunteering students and medical professionals performed ENT surgeries on 38 refugee paediatric patients and others in need, most of whom came from the Zaatari Refugee Camp.

Upon their return, the students held a group presentation on campus to share details of their learnings, reflections and rewarding experience with staff and students in the presence of Col (Dr) Salman Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer, King Hamad University Hospital; executive members of the King Hamad University Hospital; Professor Laura Viani, President of RCSI in Dublin; Professor Cathal Kelly, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer/Registrar, RCSI in Dublin; Professor Hannah McGee, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, RCSI in Dublin; RCSI Council members; Professor Sameer Otoom, President of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain and members of the University’s Executive Committee.

RCSI Medical University of Bahrain would like to extend sincere thanks to the Bahrain Red Crescent Society, Jordan Red Crescent Society, Operation Childlife, (a charitable Irish organisation), Mr Mubarak Khalifa Al Hadi, Secretary General of the Bahrain Red Crescent Society,  Dr Fawzi Abdulla Amin, Head of Delegation - International Federation of Red Cross, GCC Cluster Office, and Bahrain Red Crescent Society Board Member,  Professor Martin Corbally, Head of Surgery Department at RCSI Medical University of Bahrain and Director of Operation Childlife, and everyone who supported this initiative. We look forward to future collaborations with our partners under our International Community Engagement programme to aid the healthcare needs of various disadvantaged communities worldwide.