Emirates inaugurates floating hospital for poor
Monday, 24 November 2008
The Emirates Friendship Hospital Ship, a charity venture run by registered NGO Friendship and sponsored by the Emirates Airline Foundation, was inaugurated in the city Saturday with members of Emirates' senior management and government officials attending the opening ceremony, says a press release.
A high-level Emirates' delegation comprising Mohammed Al Khaja, vice chairman of the Emirates Airline Foundation and Emirates Airline senior vice president safety and standards, and Keith Longstaff, Emirates Airline divisional senior vice president commercial operations worldwide, flew in from Dubai to inaugurate the ship. Also participating in the inauguration ceremony was Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, advisor for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, government of Bangladesh, and UAE Ambassador in Bangladesh Khalfan Battal Al Mansoori.
The Emirates Airline Foundation, Emirates' onboard charity initiative that funds projects around the world in aid of underprivileged children, financed the twin-hulled vessel, granting in excess of $705,000 to Friendship. Emirates has also signed a management contract for the ship with Friendship. The ship will ply approximately 250 km along the river Bhramaputra north of the country and serve over three million people living on more than 400 small islands and on the river banks.
Emirates Airline President Tim Clark said, "Emirates is pleased to be able to reach out to the people of Bangladesh with this project. This is the Emirates Airline Foundation's flagship project in Bangladesh and we hope to be able to do a lot more in the years to come with the kind support of our customers who donate generously on-board.
The well-appointed mobile hospital ship is equipped with chambers for doctors, primary health care facilities, two operation theatres, two eight-bed wards, paediatric and gynaecology units, a dental room, a pathological laboratory, an X-ray room and an ophthalmic room. A dispensary onboard will distribute free medicine and the registration room can accommodate up to 24 staff and eight visiting doctors. The deck of the ship can house 30 to 40 patients in an emergency.
A high-level Emirates' delegation comprising Mohammed Al Khaja, vice chairman of the Emirates Airline Foundation and Emirates Airline senior vice president safety and standards, and Keith Longstaff, Emirates Airline divisional senior vice president commercial operations worldwide, flew in from Dubai to inaugurate the ship. Also participating in the inauguration ceremony was Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, advisor for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, government of Bangladesh, and UAE Ambassador in Bangladesh Khalfan Battal Al Mansoori.
The Emirates Airline Foundation, Emirates' onboard charity initiative that funds projects around the world in aid of underprivileged children, financed the twin-hulled vessel, granting in excess of $705,000 to Friendship. Emirates has also signed a management contract for the ship with Friendship. The ship will ply approximately 250 km along the river Bhramaputra north of the country and serve over three million people living on more than 400 small islands and on the river banks.
Emirates Airline President Tim Clark said, "Emirates is pleased to be able to reach out to the people of Bangladesh with this project. This is the Emirates Airline Foundation's flagship project in Bangladesh and we hope to be able to do a lot more in the years to come with the kind support of our customers who donate generously on-board.
The well-appointed mobile hospital ship is equipped with chambers for doctors, primary health care facilities, two operation theatres, two eight-bed wards, paediatric and gynaecology units, a dental room, a pathological laboratory, an X-ray room and an ophthalmic room. A dispensary onboard will distribute free medicine and the registration room can accommodate up to 24 staff and eight visiting doctors. The deck of the ship can house 30 to 40 patients in an emergency.