As part of the National Reading Month and in line with its vision to establish libraries within hospital wards, the Emirates Health Services (EHS), represented by Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, is collaborating with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library and its ‘A World Reads’ initiative to enrich its libraries with over 5,000 books in both Arabic and English across various fields and specialties.
This initiative reflects the commitment of EHS to enhancing cultural and knowledge awareness within its facilities, and align with the goals of the initiative to promote a culture of reading and enhance knowledge among different segments of society, including patients.
The Emirates Health Services received more than 5,000 books from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, including educational and developmental publications in Arabic and English, at an event held at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital.
The event was attended by Dr. Noor Almheiri, Director of Mental Health Department at EHS; Dr. Ammar Albanna, Director of Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital; Ali Juma Al Tamimi, Director of Libraries Department at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL), and representatives from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library.
Dr. Noor Almheiri said that participating in the ‘A World Reads’ initiative is a testament to the belief of EHS in the importance of culture and knowledge in improving the quality of life. She added that enriching EHS hospitals with books will contribute to enhancing the mental health of patients, and provide them with a window to the outside world in addition to the opportunity to acquire knowledge and develop themselves, which enhances their therapeutic and rehabilitation pathways.
Ali Juma Al Tamimi said, "At the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, we are committed to fostering a culture of reading and knowledge across all segments of society, particularly among the youth, as they are the cornerstone of societal development and the enhancement of intellectual capabilities. This commitment is rooted in our belief that reading serves as a vital tool for refining minds, stimulating creativity and fostering a sense of belonging and national responsibility."
He added, "Our various initiatives, including 'A World Reads', embody our vision to provide all segments of the society with access to diverse sources of knowledge that enrich their thinking and broaden their perspectives. This aligns with our commitment to supporting national initiatives, such as the Reading Month and the National Literacy Strategy, which aims to increase the reading rate to 80% among students and 50% among adults."
The initiative involves distributing books to several EHS facilities and establishing libraries within hospital wards. This will enhance both educational and therapeutic programmes, offering patients and their companions access to books as a valuable source of knowledge and psychological support.
The 'A World Reads' initiative seeks to promote reading by providing diverse knowledge resources to individuals, thereby enhancing learning and developing the society.
The participation by EHS is part of its strategy to strengthen cooperation and partnerships with various entities to support national knowledge and cultural initiatives. It also aligns with the goals of the National Reading Month 'UAE Reads 2025' and the 'UAE Centennial 2071' plan, which aims to build an advanced, knowledge-based society.