Bahrain is set to open a health centre in a refugee camp in Gaza as part of a BD2 million ($5.3 million) reconstruction initiative in the war-torn state.

A delegation headed by Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) secretary-general Dr Mustafa Al Sayed will leave for Cairo this week and cross the Rafah border to enter the Gaza Strip.

The initiative is part of a major drive launched by RCO in 2009 in co-operation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

It involves reconstruction, furnishing and equipping of the health centre in the Khan Younis refugee camp, a new library at Al Fakhoura School in Jabalia Cam, and a new elementary boys school, also in Jabalia.

The centre will be officially opened on Tuesday in the presence of dignitaries, officials and medical teams.

Among the Bahrain delegation is Dr Tariq Al Shorbaji, an anaesthesiologist-intensive care specialist, who will be travelling to Cairo today.

'I am the only Bahraini doctor travelling on this trip to join other doctors to carry out relief work in Gaza, which includes treating critically ill patients,' he said.

'The health centre will be similar to any outpatient clinic that provides basic health care and will be opened on April 10.

'It is fully furnished with latest medical equipment and is funded by Bahrain because of the efforts of the leadership, Royal Charity Organisation and the National Committee for the Support of Palestinians in Gaza.'

The Bahrain team and doctors from the Arab Medical Union will initially work at the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza before providing medical treatment at the centre.

'This is my job and I am proud to serve patients,' said Dr Al Shorbaji, who travelled to the strip twice with members of the Bahrain Medical Society for aid work.

'Gaza is special and if everyone can contribute in any way it will change the lives of Palestinians. We are now planning to establish a link with the Health Ministry in Gaza to train their doctors and further improve medical care in the region's hospitals.'

The RCO has been at the forefront of organising fundraising activities, charity drives and exhibitions to back the cause of the Palestinians.

It has constructed the Bahraini school, Tel Al Hawa, in Gaza to educate 5,000 students.

It has also set up a BD207,900 rehabilitation centre to fit artificial limbs for 1,000 men, women and children injured in Israeli attacks. – TradeArabia News Service