Rumailah Hospital officials during the event held to observe International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s Rumailah Hospital marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities by organising a celebration for patients and their families in the hospital garden.
The event was organised by RH’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Social Services Department and the Patient and Visitors Service Centre.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed on December 3 every year. 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, according to a statement.  
Present at the event were Elizabeth Thiebe, acting CEO of Rumailah Hospital; Dr Wafaa al-Yazeedi, chairperson of HMC’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department; Osama Abdulhadi Hassan, assistant executive director for support services at RH; and 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.
A number of students from Bhavan’s Public School participated in the event by performing several folkloric shows and traditional dances. The event also included cultural and fun activities for patients, such as a drawing competition and chess games.   
The celebration complemented a similar event organised by RH’s Special Education Department and attended by their patients, the children’s families and patients from the hospital’s Adult Rehabilitation Programme, 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 Programme 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 Qatar for people with disabilities, such as entering into international agreements and adopting legislation to protect their rights.