One reason why hospitals often reflect the social history of a nation is because these institutions survive for their indispensability. The Oasis Hospital in Al Ain, which has moved to new modern premises, is one such place.
As The National reported yesterday, the hospital was set up in 1960, when no professional medical care was available and the small Al Ain population suffered from high infant and maternal mortality rates. But hospitals like the Oasis are not only essential public facilities, they are the beating hearts of the communities they serve. As people and businesses come and go, and towns expand into cities, hospitals are constants. They witness the passing of one generation and the birth of another. They are places of profound sadness and of great joy. The Oasis may be moving into modern premises, but it will remain the soul of Al Ain society and a repository of its many stories.
While we welcome the first -class facilities now being built across the UAE, and recent ventures into the lucrative field of medical tourism, we should remember the contribution of this institution that has truly served as an oasis – a place for life and healing.
