Al-Tamuh Club Honors Volunteer Doctors in the Special Olympics Health Program
Kuwait City, July 27 (KUNA) -- The Kuwaiti Al-Tamuh Sports Club for People with Intellectual Disabilities honored today, Monday, a number of volunteer doctors participating in its health program, in recognition of their efforts in providing medical services to athletes across foot health, eye care, physical therapy, and otolaryngology.
Rahab Boursali, the National Director of Special Olympics Kuwait, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) during the event that the honored doctors set an exemplary model of volunteerism by dedicating their time and expertise to serve Special Olympics athletes, opening their clinics to welcome athletes affiliated with various schools, institutions, centers, and associations with love and sincerity.
Boursali added that the award ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, which hosts Al-Tamuh Club, and under the patronage of Sheikhah Sheikha Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, was a tribute to these doctors’ contributions and a gesture of gratitude for their continuous efforts.
She noted that Sheikha Al-Hindi, an athlete at Al-Tamuh Club and Special Olympics, and a Health Ambassador, delivered a speech expressing the athletes’ gratitude to the doctors and their constant commitment to monitoring their health and physical fitness, as well as their attention to young athletes through specialized health programs.
She explained that the health program enjoys broad support from the Ministry of Health, alongside private sector institutions that contribute to facilitating the implementation of its initiatives, most notably the comprehensive annual health screenings held across various governorates. She expressed her appreciation to all supporters, sponsors, and media outlets, particularly KUNA and the Ministry of Information, for their role in highlighting the message and community activities of Special Olympics.
For her part, Dr. Ghada Ibrahim, a Family Medicine Consultant and volunteer at Al-Tamuh Club, who was honored at the event, told KUNA that her volunteer experience with Special Olympics Kuwait began in 2022 and marked a distinctive milestone in her professional and humanitarian career, providing her with the opportunity to serve people with disabilities through health screening and awareness programs.
She added that she joined the team after being nominated to participate in the Special Olympics committee, despite the timing coinciding with the coronavirus pandemic and the associated professional commitments at the Ministry of Health. She emphasized that her desire to provide volunteer work benefiting Kuwaitis was the driving force behind her continued involvement in this initiative.
Dr. Ibrahim explained that she participated in a specialized training course held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which qualified her as a certified trainer for doctors in Kuwait under Special Olympics programs. She noted that she continued to participate in various activities and events organized by Al-Tamuh Sports Club and Special Olympics in previous years.
She praised the attention paid by government and civil society entities to supporting people with disabilities, emphasizing that this attention is reflected in the development of health, public, and recreational facilities, as well as the provision of accessibility features, designated parking spaces, elevators, and priority in services, which enhance their integration and enable them to live independently and with ease.
For his part, Dr. Yusuf Al-Awadi, a pediatric and special needs dentist, thanked KUNA for the distinguished recognition of volunteer doctors, highlighting their social role. Dr. Al-Awadi, winner of the 2025 Global Health Leadership Award (Gulisono), noted that the Gulisono Award is granted by Special Olympics International in partnership with the Gulisono Foundation. He received the award during a ceremony held in Rochester, New York, USA, considering that such recognition underscores the importance of supporting inclusive healthcare and enhancing international cooperation, thereby contributing to providing more comprehensive and equitable health services for people with disabilities.
He clarified that winning the award is a culmination of years of work in promoting inclusive healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It reflects the presence of Kuwaiti expertise on international platforms and serves as an impetus to continue developing health initiatives and expanding the scope of services provided to people with disabilities in accordance with best practices. (End) S.L.M./T.A.B.
