In a first-of-its kind initiative by an Arab media organisation, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council and Sharjah Media Corporation (SMC), has announced the donation of AED 3 million to The Big Heart Foundation Clinic at Al Zaatari Camp in Jordan, a facility that hosts approximately 80,000 Syrian Refugees.

SMC’s donation to The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) - a Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide - follows a visit to the camp by a Sharjah delegation that encompassed officials from a number of government bodies and organisations.  

The delegation headed by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi comprised Noura Al Noman, Chairperson of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi Executive Office, Reem BinKaram, Director of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, Hassan Yaqoub Al Mansouri, Director of Sharjah Radio Sector at Sharjah Media Corporaion, and Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of Sharjah Government Media Bureau.

It also included Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of TBHF, Erum Mazher Alvie, Senior Advisor at Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi Executive Office, and Salha Ghabish, Cultural Adviser at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, as well as a number of local media representatives.

The visit  aimed to get a closer view of the efforts undertaken by the UAE to alleviate the suffering of Syrian refugees through the provision of help and support that aims to fulfil their essential needs, ensure their well-being and give them hope for a brighter future and erase the painful memories of the past and overcome today’s challenges.

TBHF Clinic provides medical and healthcare services to 20,000 displaced persons, comprising primary healthcare to 14,400, reproductive healthcare to 3,000 and nutrition-related services to 2,600. SMC’s donation will cover its operational processes for one year, including laboratory tests, medication and medical equipment. The funds will enable the largest number of Syrian refugees to benefit from the clinic’s services, saving the lives of many who would otherwise not have been able to access treatment outside the camp.

“The crisis of Syrian refugees is one of the most tragic human stories in modern history and is one that is relentlessly ongoing. The displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from their country, with the attendant suffering that this has entailed, has imposed huge challenges at all levels. In line with the UAE’s direction and the international efforts of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, to support refugees and vulnerable people worldwide, we have made this donation to TBHF Clinic. The clinic is the largest facility providing medical and healthcare services to residents at Al Zaatari Camp, which is the temporary home to an estimated 80,000 refugees,” said Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council and Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation.

“Operating under the directives of its Chairperson, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, TBHF provides comprehensive primary healthcare services to refugees, particularly to children. Since opening, TBHF Clinic has received thousands of patients, providing them with premium healthcare services and medical consultancy. SMC is delighted to be able to contribute and be part of this noble cause through donating AED 3 million to cover the costs of the clinic’s operations for one year,” he added.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi underlined that since its inception, SMC has transcended the traditional scope of a TV and radio broadcaster by playing an instrumental role in supporting social and humanitarian causes in the UAE and the wider Arab world. He emphasised that this strategy forms part of its mission that aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

During its visit to the camp, the SMC delegation had the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of TBHF Clinic’s services, including its laboratory and clinical tests, the treatment it provides to patients and the vaccinations it offers to children. The delegation was able to observe the clinic’s readiness to handle acute as well as chronic cases and commended the great efforts of its staff to alleviate the suffering and pain of patients.

The delegation toured the camp and visited the highest point there where Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi met a number of families and chatted with children to assess their needs and the services rendered to them by the TBHF Clinic. The delegation also visited the camp’s Souq, known as the ‘Champs Elysees’ street where they learnt about types of trade, crafts and professions taken up by Syrian refugees living in the camp.

Established in 2009 by Emiri Decree No. 25, SMC is a government organisation dedicated to developing the media industry in the Emirate of Sharjah. It hosts a number of TV and radio channels, including Sharjah TV, Sharjah Sports, Sharqiya from Kalba, Al Wosta from Al Thaid, Sharjah Radio and Quran Radio from Sharjah.

SMC’s remit includes developing a cadre of national senior media personnel capable of keeping abreast with requirements for progression, reinforcing the media’s role in building and maintaining family cohesion, developing media performance on the grounds of professionalism, excellence and creativity, and abiding by media ethics.