The Cuban Hospital (TCH), a member of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), has recently delivered its 1,000th baby – Tamem Abdulrab – since the facility officially opened on January 10, 2012.
The number of babies born at TCH so far this year is 164 – a 93% increase in the number of births at the hospital for the same period last year.
The Cuban Hospital saw its first birth on September 30, 2012 with Zain Aldin Barakat, the grandson of the hospital’s chief executive, Philip Lowen.
The hospital has seen many more births since then, culminating in this week’s celebrations as the 1,000th baby was born.
Tamem was born to Yemeni parents at 7am on April 24 and delivered by Dr Maria del Loreto Tellez and nurse Maidolys Lovit.
Tamem’s father Salem Abdulrab expressed joy at the birth of his son: “I can’t describe how happy I am that my son is the 1,000th baby to be born at the Cuban Hospital.”
“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the hospital staff for their professionalism in ensuring his safe delivery and for the special gifts presented to us,” he added. “The quality of care we have received has been outstanding and we are proud to be a part of this important milestone for the Cuban Hospital.”
TCH is a joint project between the government of Qatar and the government of the Republic of Cuba.
The hospital is staffed by 455 Cuban medical professionals supported by HMC technical and administration staff offering the safe, patient-centred and compassionate care to its patients.
In recent years, HMC has placed emphasis on expanding its care services, and in particular maternity services outside Doha through its three general hospitals in Dukhan, Al Wakra and Al Khor.
The Cuban Hospital is increasingly a destination hospital for many residents from Doha as well as the local communities of Western Qatar.
Prior to the opening of Al Khor Hospital in 2006, the Women’s Hospital was HMC’s sole provider of maternity services.
With the Cuban Hospital and Al Wakra Hospital opening in 2012, there are more options available for parents to decide where to deliver their babies.