EHS provides over 5,000 books to support patients
This initiative coincides with the National Reading Month and aligns with EHS's vision to establish libraries in hospital wards.
This step reflects the institution's commitment to promoting cultural and intellectual awareness in its therapeutic environment, in line with the initiative's goal of spreading a reading culture and enhancing knowledge across all segments of society, including patients in EHS facilities.
EHS received more than 5,000 diverse books from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, including educational and developmental titles in both Arabic and English, during an event held at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, attended by Dr. Noor Almheiri, Director of the Mental Health Department at EHS, Dr. Ammar Albanna, Director of Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, Ali Juma Al Tamimi, Director of the Libraries Department at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, and representatives from the library.
Dr. Noor Almheiri emphasised that participation in 'A World Reads' reflects the organisation's belief in the importance of culture and knowledge in improving quality of life, noting that providing books in hospitals supports patients' mental health, gives them a window into the outside world, and offers an opportunity to gain knowledge and develop skills, which supports their treatment and rehabilitation journey.
Ali Juma Al Tamimi reaffirmed the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library's dedication to instilling a culture of reading and knowledge among all groups in society, especially youth, who are considered the cornerstone of building society and developing intellectual capabilities.
He stated that reading shapes minds, fosters creativity, and enhances the spirit of belonging and national responsibility.
Al Tamimi added that the library's various initiatives, including 'A World Reads,' aim to empower all segments of society by providing access to diverse knowledge resources that broaden minds and perspectives.
This vision aligns with national efforts, including the Reading Month and the National Literacy Strategy, which aims to raise reading habits to 80 percent among students and 50 per cent among adults.
The initiative includes distributing books to multiple EHS facilities and establishing libraries in hospital wards, contributing to both educational and therapeutic programmes, and offering patients and their companions the chance to benefit from books as a source of knowledge and psychological support during treatment.
The 'A World Reads' initiative promotes reading by providing access to diverse sources of knowledge, supporting lifelong learning, community development, and the advancement of all societal components.
This collaboration aligns with EHS's strategy to strengthen partnerships with local entities in support of national knowledge and cultural initiatives, consistent with the goals of National Reading Month 'UAE Reads 2025' and the UAE Centennial 2071 Vision, which aspires to build an advanced, knowledge-based society.
recently, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library donated more than 40,000 books to various governmental and educational institutions and libraries, and more than 5,000 books of different subjects to 11 new educational complexes in the Zayed Educational Complexes in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
The library aims to distribute 5,100 books in the upcoming period, to support its vision of making knowledge accessible to the public.
'A World Reads' initiative was commended by the officials in the targeted educational complexes, who stressed that this step embodies the UAE's vision and strategy to foster a culture of reading and learning.
They highlighted that these books will be a source of inspiration for students, and will contribute to shaping their academic future to be brighter and more advanced as each book is an opportunity for them to discover new worlds.
'A World Reads' initiative strives to support and enrich school libraries, educational institutions, centres, clubs, reading cafés, and government departments with a valuable and diverse collection of Arabic and English books for children, youth, and adults.
This supports the UAE's strategy to spread knowledge, encourage reading, empower schools across the country.
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Middle East Eye
11 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
'You can see his bones': In Gaza, parents struggle against child starvation and Israeli war crimes denial
The photo of an 18‑month‑old Palestinian infant from Gaza, his body resembling a "skeleton" with ribs and spine clearly visible, spread rapidly across the internet over the past week. Widely shared by international media outlets, including the BBC, CNN and The New York Times, the image sparked global outrage. It also created controversy. Israel and its supporters argued that the infant had "pre‑existing health problems." That has been the basis of claims by supporters of Israel to claim that starvation in Gaza is a "lie." Middle East Eye visited the child and his mother in their makeshift tent in western Gaza City. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The child's mother Hidaya recalled her story from her home in a makeshift tent in what was once a wedding hall looking out to the sea. "When the war on Gaza began, I was seven months pregnant with Mohammed," she said, referring to her child, Mohammed al-Mutawaq, whose image has become a symbol of the human cost of Israel's tactic of starving civilians. "He was born in December 2023, at the height of the attacks and during the second month of the first starvation campaign. No, a Gaza toddler having cerebral palsy does not mean Israeli starvation is a 'lie' Read More » "When I gave birth to him, he suffered from a lack of oxygen that caused slight muscle weakness," she added. Despite those early issues, Mohammed was treated by a physiotherapist and showed promising signs of good health. "He began showing remarkable improvements that the doctors were astonished by," Hidaya said. When Mohammed was two months old, Hidaya began to suffer from malnutrition and the child stopped breastfeeding on his own, and a new struggle began to get milk and baby formula. "We managed to secure milk through hospitals during the first months and throughout the first starvation campaign." Hidaya said. "Back then, his father was still alive, he used to bring us milk before he was killed in an Israeli attack. Mohammed's health was still slowly improving in this period and he was reaching a number of milestones. "He even began to speak, saying 'amma' and 'abba'," Hidaya said, using the Arabic words for "mummy" and "daddy." He had even started crawling and standing by early 2025, but then the family were again forced out of Jabalia. Since then, Mohammed's health has rapidly deteriorated. His weight has fallen from nine kilograms to less than six, and the progress he had made in muscle strength and mobility has reversed. Hidaya says her son, Mohammed al-Mutawaq, can no longer hold his head up due to the effects of starvation (MEE/Hani Abu Rezeq) "When I began noticing the changes in my son's body and face, I took him to several hospitals, but they told me his only treatment at that time was food," Hidaya said. "They said he needed proper nutrition. "A child like him needs milk, eggs, cheese, vegetables and fruits. "But since he came into this world, he has never even known what fruit is. He came into life in the midst of starvation and deprivation of resources." 'Severe acute malnutrition' Doctors told Hidaya that Mohammed now suffers from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the most severe form of malnutrition. They warned that without urgent and consistent access to proper nutrition and medical care, his life will remain at constant risk. But Hidaya has already begun noticing alarming changes in her toddler. At the start of July, he was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe dehydration. Israeli starvation death toll approaches 150 as formula shortage threatens babies in Gaza Read More » "I reached a point where I thought he was dead. I used to press my head to his chest, hoping to hear his heartbeat. He wouldn't move, and he had severe diarrhoea. "I believe he was poisoned by the unclean soup kitchen food we relied on as a substitute for proper meals," Hidaya said. Mohammed was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with dehydration and given medication that improved his health slightly. Still, Hidaya was told by doctors that there would be no real improvement in his health until he had access to proper food. Despite his vulnerability, the hospital discharged Mohammed so it could make room for other children. Like Mohammed, hundreds of children are currently lying ill and famished in Gaza's hospitals, diagnosed with severe malnutrition. According to Unicef, from the start of 2025 until May, an average of 112 children were diagnosed daily with acute malnutrition. The UN agency reported that over 6,500 children were diagnosed with acute malnutrition in June, and 5,000 children received the same diagnosis in the first two weeks of July alone. Widespread food insecurity Unicef warned that the entire population of the Gaza Strip was food insecure, while all children under five, which amounts to more than 320,000 children, are at risk of becoming acutely malnourished. "Mohammed learned to walk (but) now he can no longer even sit up on his own. "He can't hold his head steady, and he barely moves his legs. Right now, he's barely able to move his arms," Hidaya told MEE. "If I hadn't seen him crawl and stand before, I might have thought his current condition was due to other health issues. 'If I hadn't seen him crawl and stand before, I might have thought his current condition was due to other health issues' - Hidaya, mother of Mohammed al-Mutawaq "His condition was mild, and he was making progress. Only after we couldn't secure him milk and food did he start to deteriorate like this." Today, when Mohammed wakes Hidaya up crying for milk at night, she soothes him with water. "There are days we go to bed without eating anything. Sometimes, we go four days in a row without food. "There is no baby food, milk, or nutritional supplements available at all. And if they are found in the market, the prices are unimaginably high because they are very scarce," she added. "I became the sole provider for two children after my husband was killed, so it is incredibly difficult to afford food at such prices. "My son has literally become a skeleton. You can see his bones, his ribcage, and his spine through his skin, all because of the lack of food." In addition to the struggle of securing milk, Hidaya now faces the challenge of finding nappies for her toddler, as Israel also blocks hygiene products from entering the besieged territory. As a last resort, she uses plastic bags. "I wrap him in two plastic bags to prevent leakage. You can imagine, in the blazing summer heat, especially while living in a tent, the pain this causes him, and the rashes and skin problems the nylon inflicts on a baby's sensitive skin," she said. "I don't know what kind of life he was brought into. I cannot even secure the bare minimum that the rest of the world takes for granted. "The occupation is fighting us through starvation. They are fighting our children."
Middle East Eye
12 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
‘You can see his bones': In Gaza, parents struggle against child starvation and Israeli war crimes denial
The photo of an 18‑month‑old Palestinian infant from Gaza, his body resembling a 'skeleton' with ribs and spine clearly visible, spread rapidly across the internet over the past week. Widely shared by international media outlets, including the BBC, CNN and The New York Times, the image sparked global outrage. It also created controversy. Israel and its supporters argued that the infant had 'pre‑existing health problems'. That has been the basis of claims by supporters of Israel to claim that starvation in Gaza is a 'lie'. Middle East Eye visited the child and his mother in their makeshift tent in western Gaza City. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The child's mother Hidaya recalled her story from her home in a makeshift tent in what was once a wedding hall looking out to the sea. 'When the war on Gaza began, I was seven months pregnant with Muhammed,' she said, referring to her child, Muhammed Mutawwaq, whose image has become a symbol of the human cost of Israel's tactic of starving civilians. 'He was born in December 2023, at the height of the attacks and during the second month of the first starvation campaign. No, a Gaza toddler having cerebral palsy does not mean Israeli starvation is a 'lie' Read More » 'When I gave birth to him, he suffered from a lack of oxygen that caused slight muscle weakness,' she added. Despite those early issues, Muhammed was treated by a physiotherapist and showed promising signs of good health. 'He began showing remarkable improvements that the doctors were astonished by,' Hidaya said. When Muhammed was two months old, Hidaya began to suffer from malnutrition and the child stopped breastfeeding on his own, and a new struggle began to get milk and baby formula. 'We managed to secure milk through hospitals during the first months and throughout the first starvation campaign.' Hidaya said. 'Back then, his father was still alive, he used to bring us milk before he was killed in an Israeli attack. Muhammed's health was still slowly improving in this period and he was reaching a number of milestones. 'He even began to speak, saying 'amma' and 'abba',' Hidaya said, using the Arabic words for 'mummy' and 'daddy'. He had even started crawling and standing by early 2025, but then the family were again forced out of Jabalia. Since then, Muhammed's health has rapidly deteriorated. His weight has fallen from nine kilograms to less than six, and the progress he had made in muscle strength and mobility has reversed. Hidaya says her son, Muhammed Mutawwaq, can no longer hold his head up due to the effects of starvation (MEE/Hani Abu Rezeq) 'When I began noticing the changes in my son's body and face, I took him to several hospitals, but they told me his only treatment at that time was food,' Hidaya said. 'They said he needed proper nutrition.' 'A child like him needs milk, eggs, cheese, vegetables and fruits. 'But since he came into this world, he has never even known what fruit is. He came into life in the midst of starvation and deprivation of resources.' 'Severe acute malnutrition' Doctors told Hidaya that Muhammed now suffers from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the most severe form of malnutrition. They warned that without urgent and consistent access to proper nutrition and medical care, his life will remain at constant risk. But Hidaya has already begun noticing alarming changes in her toddler. At the start of July, he was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe dehydration. Israeli starvation death toll approaches 150 as formula shortage threatens babies in Gaza Read More » 'I reached a point where I thought he was dead. I used to press my head to his chest, hoping to hear his heartbeat. He wouldn't move, and he had severe diarrhoea. 'I believe he was poisoned by the unclean soup kitchen food we relied on as a substitute for proper meals,' Hidaya said. Muhammed was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with dehydration and given medication that improved his health slightly. Still, Hidaya was told by doctors that there would be no real improvement in his health until he had access to proper food. Despite his vulnerability, the hospital discharged Muhammed so it could make room for other children. Like Muhammed, hundreds of children are currently lying ill and famished in Gaza's hospitals, diagnosed with severe malnutrition. According to Unicef, from the start of 2025 until May, an average of 112 children were diagnosed daily with acute malnutrition. The UN agency reported that over 6,500 children were diagnosed with acute malnutrition in June, and 5,000 children received the same diagnosis in the first two weeks of July alone. Widespread food insecurity Unicef warned that the entire population of the Gaza Strip was food insecure, while all children under five, which amounts to more than 320,000 children, are at risk of becoming acutely malnourished. 'Muhammed learned to walk (but) now he can no longer even sit up on his own. 'He can't hold his head steady, and he barely moves his legs. Right now, he's barely able to move his arms,' Hidaya told MEE. 'If I hadn't seen him crawl and stand before, I might have thought his current condition was due to other health issues. 'If I hadn't seen him crawl and stand before, I might have thought his current condition was due to other health issues' - Hidaya, mother of Muhammed Mutawwaq 'His condition was mild, and he was making progress. Only after we couldn't secure him milk and food did he start to deteriorate like this.' Today, when Muhammed wakes Hidaya up crying for milk at night, she soothes him with water. 'There are days we go to bed without eating anything. Sometimes, we go four days in a row without food. 'There is no baby food, milk, or nutritional supplements available at all. And if they are found in the market, the prices are unimaginably high because they are very scarce,' she added. 'I became the sole provider for two children after my husband was killed, so it is incredibly difficult to afford food at such prices. 'My son has literally become a skeleton. You can see his bones, his ribcage, and his spine through his skin, all because of the lack of food.' In addition to the struggle of securing milk, Hidaya now faces the challenge of finding nappies for her toddler, as Israel also blocks hygiene products from entering the besieged territory. As a last resort, she uses plastic bags. 'I wrap him in two plastic bags to prevent leakage. You can imagine, in the blazing summer heat, especially while living in a tent, the pain this causes him, and the rashes and skin problems the nylon inflicts on a baby's sensitive skin,' she said. 'I don't know what kind of life he was brought into. I cannot even secure the bare minimum that the rest of the world takes for granted. 'The occupation is fighting us through starvation. They are fighting our children.'
Middle East Eye
3 days ago
- Middle East Eye
We have entered third stage of famine in Gaza: Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex
"I believe we have entered the third stage of famine in the Gaza Strip. Malnutrition is claiming the lives of our patients despite our efforts to save them," Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, has told Al Jazeera Arabic. Israel has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the health ministry has said. Israeli forces have killed at least 62 people across Gaza since dawn, including 19 aid seekers.
