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'They'll make me cry': UAE President meets Emirati children in US hospital in emotional video

The young child he hugged was looking around shyly before promptly going into the President's arms

Published: Tue 24 Sep 2024, 4:43 PM

Updated: Wed 25 Sep 2024, 10:39 AM

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  • WAM

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"I'm fine now that I have seen you," Sheikh Mohamed said as he firmly hugged a little boy.

In a video that has been widely shared on social media, the UAE leader can be seen interacting with Emirati children undergoing treatment at the Children's National Hospital in Washington.

The young child he hugged was looking around shyly before promptly going into the President's arms.

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As the two share a warm embrace, the leader can be seen, almost tearful, remarking: "They're going to make me cry." UAE Rulers can often be seen sharing fond moments with youth, creating memories, taking photos with eager children.

Watch the video below:

The visit to the hospital comes as part of the President's official trip to the US. Emotions ran high as Sheikh Mohamed interacted with the people.

A group of young children waved from the windows, earnestly looking down as the leader made his way through the facility.

A little girl fondly exclaimed, "I love you so much!", in response to which the President enveloped her in a hug, saying: "It is I who love you, my daughter."

The hospital staff expressed their gratitude to the leader for his "clear vision to prioritise children's health."

The leader also visited the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation, which provides the latest treatments in the field of paediatric surgery from around the world.

Photos: WAM

Photos: WAM

Sheikh Mohamed has witnessed the growth and achievements of the institute. Having seen the first model of a “miniature pacemaker”, designed for infants, in 2019, the President was told that with the UAE's support, it is now used in more than 40 paediatric patients, five of whom are newborns.

The President was also briefed on the tasks of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Command Centre, which uses advanced artificial intelligence technologies to diagnose and proactively detect critical medical conditions such as cardiac arrests, which increases the chances of successful treatments and saves patients' lives.

The centre allows surgeons and cardiologists to provide remote medical consultations with doctors from around the world, including Abu Dhabi and the UAE field hospital in Gaza.

During his tour of the hospital, Sheikh Mohamed also met with the families of a number of Emirati children receiving treatment, where he checked on their health and the progress of their treatment, stressing that caring for the nation's children wherever they are is a top priority for the UAE.

Over the past few years, the UAE has contributed $150 million to support the Children’s National Hospital to establish the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation and $30 million to establish the Research and Innovation Complex, as part of the country’s vision to improve the lives of children from around the world by supporting the development of life-saving treatments and enhancing the levels of innovative health services provided to them.

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