Hadassah Medical Center

Israel.

June 2008

Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, the Hadassah medical center is an “example proving that hatred and suspicion can be overcome by men of strong will.” Approached to evaluate the hospital needs in the West Bank, this university hospital in Jerusalem organizes its services as a cooperation to help the Palestinian population. Welcomed by Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef and Doctor Sydney Ohana, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy visited the new department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology— the mother and child pavilion. Run by Doctor Michael Weintraub, this is the only comprehensive department treating children with cancer in the Jerusalem area. Equipped with a classroom, Palestinian children and Israeli children sit side by side. “Medical clowns” or laughter doctors, are at the children’s bedsides; one of them greeted Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who then went on to talk with Judith Melki, a French researcher into rare diseases, at the head of the Human Genetics department. In March 2009, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy once again committed to helping Hadassah hospital, by presiding the benefit dinner organized for the hospital.