Honour for care

New York : The Reformed Church in the United States has conferred the “Samuel Zwemer” award to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. 

The honour is in recognition of HM the King’s prominent support to the American Mission Hospital and health services in general in Bahrain, as well as his keenness to promote freedom of religion, said the American Reformed Church in a statement. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa received the award on behalf of the King at a ceremony held here on Tuesday. 

Speaking on the occasion, Shaikh Khalid stressed HM King Hamad’s appreciation for the efforts of the Reformed Church in strengthening the close historical ties between Bahrain and the US, and the services provided by the American Mission Hospital. 

He pointed out the keenness of HM the King on providing various ways of cutting-edge health care to all citizens and residents in the Kingdom. 

Shaikh Khalid noted that  the King is keen to promote the advanced status Bahrain has achieved in the field of human development, which is monitored by international reports. 

The Minister stressed that the citizens of Bahrain practise their religion with all the goodwill and freedom, pluralism and peaceful coexistence. 

Shaikh Khalid also praised the services provided by the American Mission Hospital and Al Raja School in the health and educational services in Bahrain. 

The Secretary General of the American Reformed Church, Tom de Vries, awarded a commemorative medal to HM the King. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of the American Mission Hospital; Hull Delano Roosevelt, member of the Council of the American Mission Hospital; Dr. George Cheriyan, the Chief Executive Medical Officer; and William Roebuck, the US Ambassador to Bahrain, also attended.