The National Foundation for Medical Health Care (NFMHC) has opened its first branch in the Asir region. The branch will serve over 700 elderly patients suffering from chronic medical conditions in the region. The NFMHC has already provided medical service to 4,300 elderly patients and patients with chronic diseases. The new branch will reflect the care the foundation's President Princess Adela Bint Abdullah gives to these patients. The Director of Human Resources for the Western region, Abeer Qabani, said: “The foundation provides medical services to 48,000 cases in the Makkah region alone. Cases which need home healthcare attention account for only three percent of our services.” The branch is just the latest in a number of programs the foundation is launching to improve the lives of the sick and the elderly. It recently started an outreach program to foster volunteering and social responsibility and also signed a number of partnership agreements to take care of elderly patients inside their homes. “The foundation will provide these patients with necessary medical equipment and show them how to use this equipment,” said Qabani. The foundation also recently signed a partnership agreement with the Danube Chain to use coins for medical care services. And Qabani says there are further programs in the works. “The year 2012 will see a lot of plans, programs and activities to educate the public and the private sector about the importance of supporting social responsibility programs.”
