Premier deputises minister to attend RCSI graduation ceremony

Manama, Nov. 27 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has delegated Health Minister, Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh, to attend the 7th graduation ceremony of the the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain), held under his patronage. More than 200 students graduated from undergraduate courses in nursing and medicine, as well as the RCSI Bahrain-hosted Institute of Leadership’s (IOL) Masters in Healthcare Management and Masters in Quality Safety and Healthcare Management. Other students were awarded Membership of RCSI and Membership of RCSI’s Faculty of Dentistry. Among those, were 150 candidates from undergraduate, bridging and masters programmes in nursing, marking the university’s biggest ever cohort of nursing graduates on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the launch of the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Health Minister stressed that the ceremony is an honouring for all students who have exerted tireless efforts in order to acquire knowledge and skills, which, she said, will reflect positively on the level of services provided for patients. Al-Saleh called on the graduates to continue acquiring knowledge, apply the skills they have acquired in RCSI, cooperate with the medical staff in the kingdom for the sake of ensuring the safety of patients and seek the satisfaction of the beneficiaries of medical services. She affirmed that the graduation of the current batch will add to the kingdom's nursing sector, and contribute to upgrading services delivered to patients in the public and private sectors, expressing the Health Ministry's readiness to avail of the new competencies who prove their ability and dedication in the service of patients. She stressed that over the past years, the Health Ministry has given priority to improving the quality of nursing services and building the capacities of the nursing staff. The minister commended the efforts exerted by RCSI Bahrain, reiterating the Health Ministry's support. She also lauded the role played by RCSI Bahrain in developing the health sector in Bahrain through ensuring the graduation of highly qualified medical and nursing staff, stressing that RCSI Bahrain is a medical monument which the kingdom is proud to host. The Health Minister extended deepest thanks and appreciation to HRH the Prime Minister for deputising her to attend the grand ceremony. She underlined HRH Premier's patronage of such prestigious events during the prosperous era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, highlighting the close follow-up of His Royal Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, and his interest in developing health services in the kingdom. . The event was attended by RCSI Bahrain staff, stakeholders, special guests, dignitaries, government officials, students’ families and senior representatives of RCSI in Dublin. In accepting their awards from RCSI President, Professor John Hyland, and RCSI Bahrain President, Professor Sameer Otoom, yesterday’s graduates received degrees from RCSI Bahrain and the National University of Ireland (NUI). Professor Otoom took the opportunity to congratulate the graduates and extended his gratitude to the friends and family members who had supported them in their achievements. The valedictorian address was delivered by nursing graduate, Narjes Ashkanani. Yesterday’s ceremony brought to more than 1,300, the number of RCSI Bahrain graduates since the inaugural Conferring ceremony back in 2010. RCSI Bahrain is a constituent university of RSCI, which was established in 1784. Like its Irish counterpart, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.