Saudi Al-Balsam organization performs 43 neurosurgery procedures in Yemen

Al-Balsam with support from KSrelief succeeds in performing 43 free neurosurgeries in Yemen. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 29 August 2024
Follow

Saudi Al-Balsam organization performs 43 neurosurgery procedures in Yemen

  • Fourth mission following cooperation agreement with KSrelief

RIYADH: The Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development has carried out 43 neurosurgery procedures in Yemen, with the support and sponsorship of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief.

“This voluntary medical program, held from Aug. 17 to 23, offered free treatment to patients,” a statement by the association said on Thursday.

The Al-Balsam team, consisting of about 25 health professionals including top spinal surgery and neurosurgery specialists, nurses, and technicians, conducted the procedures at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in Aden.

The team examined a total of 127 patients and provided them with essential healthcare, in collaboration with local Yemeni doctors.

The voluntary neurosurgery program in Yemen is part of a series of humanitarian medical initiatives led by KSrelief and aimed at providing treatment to individuals and families with limited financial resources across several countries.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ahmari, executive director of the Al-Balsam Association, said that the medical team provided surgeries related to brain, neurological, and spinal issues to patients with severe conditions which required prompt and effective intervention.

Al-Ahmari said that the Al-Balsam medical convoy had set key goals, including saving lives through essential procedures while enhancing the skills of local medical professionals.

This involved providing training and qualifications to the Yemeni medical staff in neurosurgery.

The visit of the Al-Balsam team to Yemen marked its fourth medical mission following its cooperation agreement with KSrelief.

The association worked in Kyrgyzstan in November 2023, Chad in January 2024, and completed a mission to Yemen in May this year.


France, Saudi collaborate on space for artists in Riyadh

Updated 14 sec ago
Follow

France, Saudi collaborate on space for artists in Riyadh

  • L’Institut francais, Riyadh Art will open La Fabrique on Feb. 22
  • ‘New cultural chapter’ between the nations, says France envoy

RIYADH: L’Institut francais in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Art, an initiative of the city’s royal commission, have announced the opening of La Fabrique, a space for artists, on Jan. 22.

The project is based in the Riyadh Art Hub in JAX District and will enable Saudi and French artists to create, experiment, and bring their visions to life, according to a press release from the organizers.

La Fabrique also offers the public a rare opportunity to witness creative production including movement performances, digital and immersive arts, photography, music, cinema, cuisine and poetry.

At its core, La Fabrique fosters artistic exchange between French and Saudi artists, fostering new encounters, shared practices, and co-creation.

The initiative is aligned with the vision shared by French President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who have placed cultural cooperation at the heart of the renewed Saudi-French strategic partnership.

Anchored in the ambitions of Vision 2030, La Fabrique is a part of Riyadh’s transformation into a major international cultural hub.

Developed in cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the project strengthens the long-standing cultural dialogue between the two nations, the press release stated.

Patrick Maisonnave, ambassador of France to Saudi Arabia, said: “La Fabrique embodies the spirit of a new cultural chapter between France and Saudi Arabia.

“By bringing our artists together, we are not only sharing techniques and traditions, we are opening a space where imaginations meet, new forms emerge, and creativity becomes a bridge between our two societies.

“This initiative reflects our belief that artistic dialogue is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding, trust, and a shared future. It stands as a concrete example of France’s contribution to the ambitions of Vision 2030.”