The foundation stone for Bahrain Specialist Hospital has been laid in Somalia's capital Mogadishu and its building agreement signed.

On the directives of His Majesty King Hamad, honorary president of the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO), and under the patronage of RCO board of directors chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, RCO secretary-general Dr Mustafa Al Sayed laid the stone.

The ceremony was held in the presence of Somali Health Minister Dr Abdulaziz Shaikh Youssef, other ministers and MPs and Islamic Relief board chairman Dr Mohamed El-Alfy.

On the occasion, Shaikh Nasser thanked His Majesty for his innumerable humanitarian initiatives and constant keenness to provide relief to the needy and disaster-stricken people across the world, adding that the move reflects the distinguished fraternal Bahraini-Somali relations.

He also praised the support of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the constant follow-up of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander.

The RCO secretary-general conveyed greetings from the leadership and Shaikh Nasser to the brotherly Somali people and officials.

Dr Al Sayed said that the $2 million hospital will be ready by the beginning of 2014.

The hospital is the first development project in the country in the last 20 years. The Somali health minister announced that the National Ophthalmology Centre in Mogadishu will be re-named "Bahrain National Ophthalmology Centre" in recognition of the King's support of Somali people and his continuous humanitarian initiatives.

He said that the funds were raised through the BH4Somalia campaign spearheaded by the Information Affairs Authority, led by its president Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. He praised support accorded to RCO by the Health Ministry and the Bahrain Red Crescent.

Dr Al Sayed said that the kingdom's aid will help restore sight to 1,000 Somalis and dig a series of wells across the drought-ravaged country, in co-operation with the Islamic Relief. – TradeArabia News Service