The psychosocial support program, managed by the university’s CSC to serve hospitalized patients, organized a recreational and supportive event for children with cancer and their families at An-Najah National Hospital. This activity was part of the program’s ongoing series of supportive initiatives. The event was carried out by a team of volunteers from the Faculty of Medicine at An-Najah National University and included entertainment, drawing, coloring, and storytelling. At the conclusion of the event, the students presented gifts to the 17 children and several of their family members.

Program coordinator Dina Al-Qaddoumi noted that this activity exemplifies the program’s diverse offerings. In addition to group recreational activities, the program provides individual psychosocial support to patients and their families in multiple hospital departments, including those treating kidney failure, cancer, and children. She expressed her appreciation for the efforts of the volunteers, who are the backbone of the program, and specifically thanked the team of medical student volunteers who both participated in and fully funded the activity. Several patients and their families expressed immense satisfaction with the program, noting that it significantly helps reduce psychological stress and expressing hope that the hospital administration will continue to offer such initiatives.

Professor Bilal Salameh, director of the CSC, highlighted the importance of the program and emphasized the necessity of providing social services within the medical field. He called on the Ministry of Health and the administration of private hospitals to establish permanent social service units. He added that despite the program’s limited resources and reliance on volunteers, the outcomes clearly demonstrate the value of this work in supporting patients and their families.