New coronavirus hospital in Saudi named after late nurse Nujood

Madinah - The nurse Nujood Al-Khaibari was working in the health sector of Madinah and is survived by three daughters and a son.

Saudi Arabia's newly built 100-bed hospital for coronavirus patients has been named Nujood Medical Centre after a Saudi nurse who contracted Covid-19 while treating patients and later died of the infection.

The nurse, Nujood Al-Khaibari, 45, was working in the health sector of Madinah and is survived by three daughters and a son. The new Nujood Medical Centre is a tribute to the brave nurse who worked relentlessly on the frontline during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The hospital was launched on Wednesday by Emir of Madinah Prince Faisal Bin Salman, and has been built in 59 days straight with the support of energy and desalinated water provider ACWA Power and THABAT, Saudi Gazette reported.

The Kingdom's Health Minister Dr Tawfiq Al Rabiah said in a tweet: "Today, the Governor of Madinah launched an integrated hospital with a capacity of 100 beds that was built in 59 days with the support of Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman and a donation from ACWA Power to provide better services."

Adding that the hospital has been named after the frontline nurse, Nujood Al-Khaibari, Dr Al-Rabiah further said in the tweet: "May God have mercy on her, in appreciation of what she did to serve patients and in gratitude for the efforts of health practitioners."

Nujood's demise was mourned by the entire Kingdom and Princess Reema Bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States had tweeted: "We mourn Nujood's loss and remember her brave sacrifice; healthcare heroes are battling the global#Covid19 pandemic. Rest in peace #Nurse Nujood AlKhaibari."

• Saudi Arabia