Two Bahraini female officers from the Ministry of Defence were promoted to the rank of Colonel yesterday making them the first women in Bahrain to hold such a rank in Bahrain Defence Force (BDF).
The BDF Hospital royal medical services commander Brigadier Dr Sheikh Salman bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa honoured Dr Aisha Mubarak Jaber and Dr Moza Rashid Ahmed and 10 other male officers from the BDF Hospital yesterday for achieving their new ranks.
Brig Dr Sheikh Salman is flanked by Dr Aisha (left) and Dr Moza after the ceremony. ©Gulf News |
Dr Aisha is the chief of doctors and the head of radiology while Dr Moza is head of the maternity department.
The first Bahraini woman to hold a rank of a colonel is the present head of the Women Police Directorate, Colonel Awatef Al Jishi.
Brig Dr Sheikh Salman said that recognising the role these officers played in shaping the hospital since it was opened 25 years ago into the modern medical facility would serve to motivate them and others to be more productive.
The ceremony also marked the achieving of the ISO9001 - 2000 certification for two more departments at the hospital - pharmacy and ambulance - taking the hospital ISO certification up to 70 per cent.
"We expect to be fully ISO certified by the end of this year or early next year," Brig Dr Shaikh Salman said.
"The hospital is committed to developing the level of services it offers to the public to ensure the best service for the hospital users that is why we are seeking the ISO certification".
The 400-bed hospital became ISO certified in 1997. In July 2003, six other departments were awarded the certification. The hospital celebrates its silver jubilee this year.
Mazen Mahdi is a Bahraini journalist based in Manama
