Qatar Charity (QC) has opened a health center in Albania’s Shijak municipality to provide health services to more than 17,000 people in the municipality and surrounding areas.

The health center opening ceremony was attended by the ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Albania HE Ali bin Hamad Al Marri, the Deputy Minister of Health of Albania HE Mira Rakacolli, and the mayor of the Shijak municipality Elton Arbana, in addition to the director of Qatar Charity’s Albania office Mahmoud Hussein and a large number of people from the municipality. 

The two-storey health center consists of 10 clinics, three administrative rooms, a laboratory, a dental clinic, and a vaccination room, in addition to 6 doctors and 20 nurses providing medical services to nearly 300 persons daily.

The Albanian government officials praised the Qatari support for their country’s developmental projects, and Qatar Charity’s role in implementing them according to high professional standards.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Albania HE Ali bin Hamad Al Marri praised the distinguished relations between Qatar and Albania and their people, stating that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to strengthening relations and improving cooperation with the Republic of Albania in various fields.

He added that this health center is a gift from the people of Qatar, through Qatar Charity, for the people of Albania. He noted Qatar’s previous support for Albania and its people in various sectors, indicating that cooperation between the two countries will see further progress in the future.

The Deputy Minister of Health of Albania Mira Rakacolli, during her speech at the ceremony, thanked the State of Qatar for continually supporting the people in Alabamia, especially during the crises caused by the 2019 earthquake and the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to $5 million grant for the reconstruction of three schools that were damaged by the earthquake.

During the ceremony, the mayor of the Shijak municipality Elton Arbana commended the efforts of Qatar in helping the people in Albania, lauding the role of Qatar Charity in implementing high quality projects. He added that the health center came in a timely manner, especially in light of the continued coronavirus pandemic, indicating that more than 11,000 people have so far received the covid-19 vaccination from the center. The mayor hoped for the continuation of cooperation between the municipality and Qatar Charity.

It is worth mentioning that Qatar Charity, since the opening of its office in the Albanian capital Tirana in 1994, has been working in many sectors such as social welfare, education, relief projects and community service, in addition to implementing seasonal projects.