Mohanna: Strengthening the Health Centre’s Services and Expanding Cooperation to Serve Local Communities
Mahmoud: Amel’s Services Are Like Rain, Bringing Benefits to More Than One Village
Dr. Kamel Mohanna, President of Amel Association International, visited the Barouk Governmental Health Centre yesterday, Saturday, 10 October 2026, accompanied by a delegation from the association. They were welcomed by Dr. Fadi Mahmoud, Mayor of Barouk–Freidis; Mr. Daoud Nakhle, a member of the municipality’s medical committee; Mr. Nazih Mahmoud; Sheikh and Mukhtar Youssef Halaweh; Dr. Youssef Halaweh; and the centre’s administrative team.
The delegation included Dr. Mohanna’s wife, educator Faida Mohanna; Dr. Ahmad Abboud, Amel’s Administrative Director; Dr. Zeina Mohanna, Director of Programmes and Partnerships and a member of the association’s governing board; and members of the Amel team.
The visit provided an opportunity to review the centre’s work, assess its needs and explore ways to strengthen its services. It also highlighted the importance of cooperation between Amel, the municipality and the centre’s administration in responding to the health needs of residents of Barouk–Freidis and neighbouring villages.
The Barouk Governmental Health Centre is part of the Ministry of Public Health’s primary healthcare network and is owned by the ministry and Barouk Municipality. Supporting such facilities helps communities access healthcare and sustain essential services, particularly amid the economic and financial pressures facing families.
The visit reflected local residents’ appreciation for the healthcare services and support provided by Amel Association International in the Chouf district, as well as their wish to continue and strengthen cooperation. This contribution is consistent with Amel’s commitment to making healthcare accessible to those most in need through its centres, programmes and mobile medical units.
Mahmoud: A Long Journey of Service to Humanity
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Fadi Mahmoud praised Dr. Mohanna’s and Amel’s longstanding work, comparing their presence to rain whose benefits extend beyond a single village. He said: “Dr. Kamel, your presence and Amel’s presence are like rain; the rain that falls here waters more than one village. Your healthcare services likewise reach more than one community. With you here, we look forward to more services and to strengthening this centre’s capacity.”
He added: “Our journey with you has been a long one, and we pray that God grants you a long life and good health. We have seen nothing from you but work for the common good and service to people and humanity.”
Emphasising the importance of collective effort, he continued: “This work does not rest on one person alone; the team accompanying you is a partner in making it happen and ensuring its success. May God give you all strength and keep you well so that you can continue serving people.”
Mohanna: Following Up on the Centre’s Needs and Expanding Cooperation
Dr. Kamel Mohanna explained that the visit aimed to review the health centre’s work and explore opportunities to develop it and strengthen the services it provides to local residents. He linked these efforts to continued cooperation with the municipality, the local community and the Amel team, supporting the centre’s role in serving surrounding towns and villages.
Thanking the municipality, local residents and the association’s team for their efforts and cooperation, Mohanna said: “We thank the municipality and the people of the town, as well as the team joining us today, for their efforts and cooperation. We hope this visit will provide an opportunity to follow up on our work and expand cooperation in ways that serve the area and its people.”
He stressed the importance of working together to sustain the centre’s operations and develop its services, adding: “This centre serves a wide area, and your presence with us provides important support for its continued work and the development of its services. Thank you for your efforts, and we wish you lasting health and strength to carry them forward.”
Visits to Religious Sites and a Cedar in Mohanna’s Name
The programme included visits to the shrine of the late Sheikh Abu Hassan Aref Halawi and Saint George Maronite Church, followed by a visit to the Barouk Cedar Forest within the Shouf Biosphere Reserve. There, a cedar was planted in Dr. Kamel Mohanna’s name in recognition of his humanitarian, social and healthcare work.
On this occasion, Mohanna received a Cedar Adoption Certificate bearing his name under the reserve’s “Adopt a Cedar Tree” programme. The certificate carries serial number 9676, is dated 2026, and states that the adoption is valid for ten years. It bears the inscription: “God bless this cedar and who planted it / To be remembered for generations to come.”
The visit concluded with a lunch hosted by Dr. Fadi Mahmoud in honour of Dr. Mohanna and the accompanying delegation at Al Midyaf restaurant.
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