logo
Saudi German Hospital Jeddah Becomes the First and Only Hospital Outside the USA to Earn Magnet Recognition with Distinction

Saudi German Hospital Jeddah Becomes the First and Only Hospital Outside the USA to Earn Magnet Recognition with Distinction

Argaam02-07-2025
In a historic milestone for healthcare worldwide, Saudi German Hospital Jeddah has been officially awarded Magnet Recognition with Distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — the most prestigious international honor for nursing performance and patient care quality.
This makes SGH Jeddah the first and only hospital outside the United States to receive this designation, setting a new global benchmark and placing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the forefront of nursing excellence.
Magnet with Distinction is awarded to only the highest-performing Magnet organizations globally, recognizing institutions that not only meet but exceed rigorous standards in nursing leadership, innovation, and patient outcomes. SGH Jeddah now stands as a global role model for nursing excellence, committed to delivering world-class care and transforming the patient experience.
'This is a proud moment for Jeddah and for our entire Saudi German Health family,' said Makarem Sobhi Al-Batterjee, Vice Chairman of Saudi German Health. 'To be the first and only hospital outside the USA to earn Magnet Recognition with Distinction is an extraordinary achievement. It honors the incredible people behind our vision: our nurses, our caregivers, and our entire healthcare team. Their daily dedication enables us to bring world-class care to our community. Today, Saudi German Hospital Jeddah stands as a symbol of what's possible when compassion and excellence come together in service of every patient.'
Dr. Ahmed Shebl, Group CEO of Saudi German Health, added:
'The Magnet Recognition is far more than a credential, earning it with Distinction places us among the most elite hospitals worldwide. It reflects a culture that relentlessly pushes the boundaries of what healthcare can achieve. This honor affirms that we are not only delivering care, but transforming lives through innovation, leadership, and patient-centered excellence.'
Ms. Iman El Kouwatly, Group Chief Nursing Officer, shared:
'For our nurses, this recognition is deeply personal. Being recognized with Distinction validates the heart, skill, and excellence they bring to every patient encounter. Under the leadership of Eng. Ahmed El Banna, CEO of SGH Jeddah, and Ms. Hadia Al Tabsh, CNO of SGH Jeddah, our nursing team lives our philosophy of 'caring like family' giving their best every day to make a meaningful difference.'
The Magnet Recognition Program is the gold standard for nursing excellence globally, with Magnet hospitals consistently delivering superior patient outcomes, higher satisfaction, and increased staff engagement.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pilates dreams meet reality
Pilates dreams meet reality

Arab News

time18 hours ago

  • Arab News

Pilates dreams meet reality

ALKHOBAR: It starts with a stretch. Then a breath. And for many women in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, what follows is far more than just physical movement. It's calm, clarity and control. But not everyone gets to experience it. While pilates and yoga classes have become increasingly popular in Alkhobar, Dhahran and beyond, the women who attend them — or hope to — say the trend isn't just about fitness. It's about access. 'I've felt a real difference in my body and mood since I started pilates,' said Noura Alzayani, 42, from Dhahran. 'I feel more flexible, balanced, even my posture and breathing improved. I just feel better.' She attends classes for free at the King Gym in Aramco camp and describes the sessions as 'a complete reset.' Her favorite part? The style of the workouts. I've thought about trying Pilates so many times. But the prices don't match the value. When six classes cost as much as a full year of gym membersh-ip, it just doesn't feel worth it. Lama Alrajeh, Dhahran local 'They tone the body, help with alignment and improve mental well-being. I wish more people understood their value.' But outside of private compounds such as Aramco's, access to these benefits can be difficult. While some women are willing, even eager, to sign up, the reality of high prices, limited availability and rigid schedules has kept many away. 'I've thought about trying pilates so many times,' said Lama Alrajeh, 21, also from Dhahran. 'But the prices don't match the value. When six classes cost as much as a full year of gym membership, it just doesn't feel worth it.' She once attended a free trial with her sister and loved the experience. 'It was motivating. But then we ran into the same issue — too expensive. Plus, the closest good studio is only available to Aramco employees. I can't even go with my friends.' And for students like her, flexibility isn't just something they're seeking in their bodies, but in the schedules of the classes. 'Sessions are often at times I can't manage, like early mornings or late afternoons when I'm in class. It just doesn't fit.' Still, the desire is there. Many women interviewed for this story described pilates and yoga as aspirational; something they want to include in their lives, if only logistics would allow it. It feels like (Pilates) suddenly became a huge thing, like everyone is doing it. That in itself is a positive shift. It means people are becoming more aware of their health and trying to find balance in their lives. Sitah Alotaibi, Al-Ahsa local Sitah Alotaibi, 22, from Al-Ahsa, said she has never attended a class but watches the trend with interest. 'It feels like it suddenly became a huge thing, like everyone is doing it,' she said. 'That in itself is a positive shift. It means people are becoming more aware of their health and trying to find balance in their lives.' Her main challenges? Transportation, cost and lack of availability. 'I hope one day we'll have branches in every neighborhood, with real services and inviting spaces.' Malak Khaled, 26, from Alkhobar, agrees. She describes pilates as 'a luxury' that feels out of reach. 'These places are usually located in the middle of the city and treated like elite experiences,' she said. 'I don't even have a way to get there. And I already pay for a gym — I can't afford another membership.' Even when her gym has pilates equipment, she doesn't use it. 'There are four machines, but I don't know what I'm doing, and the sessions get full fast. They only offer one class a week, and it's at a time I can't attend.' For Lama Khalid, 20, from Jubail, the story began differently; she actually did start. 'I did pilates for almost a year in Alkhobar. It was amazing. My mood improved, my body felt lighter. But I had to stop — my friend and I were traveling from Jubail, and the routine just didn't fit anymore.' She hopes more studios open in her city. 'The prices need to come down. And I wish we had more class options here in Jubail.' For others, accessibility came not from a gym, but a screen. Hajjar Alotaibi, 22, from Al-Ahsa, practices pilates once or twice a week at home using the YouTube channel Move With Nicole. 'It helps my mood, relaxes my body and tones it at the same time,' she said. 'I wish there were more local places that offered this at fair prices, but for now, this works.' Others, like Rana Abbas, 26, from Alkhobar, found solace in yoga. 'I do yoga more than pilates,' she said. 'It helps my stiff body from work and lifts my mood. I feel in control, and it suits me because it's quiet and slow-paced.' She tried multiple studios but finds the cost high. 'Around SR180 ($48) per class. I wish we had more affordable centers. And more instructors who pay attention to everyone in the class — not just a few.' The issue of cost — and perception — comes up again and again. 'I feel like pilates has become an activity for the wealthy only,' said Khaled. 'I can't afford resistance training at one gym and pilates at another. How much do we have to pay just to stay healthy?' Kawthar Abdulaziz, from Al-Ahsa, recently attended her first pilates class. 'I wanted a gym without weights or harsh training,' she said. 'I wanted to stretch, feel graceful and move like I'm dancing. That's why pilates appealed to me.' The experience didn't disappoint. 'I felt a huge release — mentally and physically. I moved my blood. I felt every muscle. It felt like I emptied all my emotional tension.' But even she admits: 'The price is too high. And the good places are far. I just want more spaces where we can move, where movement is the focus, not the luxury.' Her words echo what every woman interviewed said in one way or another; the desire to move is strong, but the barriers are real. Whether it is the lack of nearby studios, transportation issues, unaffordable prices or simply the feeling that Pilates is not 'for them,' many women across the Eastern Province are still on the outside looking in. And yet, their responses are also filled with hope. 'Even though I've only done one class,' Abdulaziz said, 'it made me realize how important this is. This kind of movement — it's not just fitness. It's therapy.'

WHO: Nearly 12,000 Children Under Five in Gaza Have Acute Malnutrition
WHO: Nearly 12,000 Children Under Five in Gaza Have Acute Malnutrition

Asharq Al-Awsat

time2 days ago

  • Asharq Al-Awsat

WHO: Nearly 12,000 Children Under Five in Gaza Have Acute Malnutrition

Around 12,000 children aged under five in Gaza are suffering from acute malnutrition, and hunger-related deaths are rising, the Director General of the World Health Organization said on Thursday. "In July, nearly 12,000 children under five years were identified as having acute malnutrition in Gaza, the highest monthly figure ever recorded," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at his organization's headquarters in Geneva. At least 99 people have died, including 64 adults and 35 children, of whom 29 were younger than five, from the start of this year to July 29. Between June and July, the number of admissions for malnutrition almost doubled - from 6,344 to 11,877 - according to the latest UNICEF figures available. Some 2,500 of those children are suffering from severe malnutrition. Tedros called for greater volumes of sustained aid, via all possible routes. The WHO said it was supporting Gaza's four malnutrition centers, but that supplies of baby formula and nutritional foods were very low. "The overall volume of nutrition supplies remains completely insufficient to prevent further deterioration. The market needs to be flooded. There needs to be dietary diversity," said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO's representative for the occupied Palestinian Territory, via video link. A global hunger monitor has said a famine scenario is unfolding in the Gaza Strip, with starvation spreading, children dying of hunger-related causes and humanitarian access to the embattled enclave severely restricted. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said food consumption across Gaza had declined to its lowest level since the onset of the war. Eighty-one percent of households in the tiny, crowded coastal territory of 2.2 million people reported poor food consumption, up from 33% in April.

GHF aid distribution sites in Gaza becoming ‘laboratories of cruelty,' says medical charity
GHF aid distribution sites in Gaza becoming ‘laboratories of cruelty,' says medical charity

Arab News

time3 days ago

  • Arab News

GHF aid distribution sites in Gaza becoming ‘laboratories of cruelty,' says medical charity

LONDON: Doctors Without Borders has accused a controversial aid initiative in Gaza of enabling the systematic targeting and killing of civilians, it was reported on Thursday. In a scathing new report, the medical charity — also known by its French acronym MSF— said aid distribution centers run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation had become sites of 'orchestrated killing.' Raquel Ayora, one of the charity's general directors, said: 'In MSF's nearly 54 years of operations, rarely have we seen such levels of systematic violence against unarmed civilians. 'The GHF distribution sites masquerading as 'aid' have morphed into a laboratory of cruelty. This must stop now.' The group is calling for GHF's operations to be scrapped immediately and replaced with a UN-led system. It has urged governments and donors to 'suspend all financial and political support for the GHF.' In a report by Sky News, the channel contacted both the GHF and the Israel Defense Forces for comment. In an interview on Wednesday, IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani dismissed the allegations, claiming: 'I think that is completely false,' and described some reports of shootings as 'fake news.' Between June 7 and July 24, MSF says it treated 1,380 people wounded near GHF aid sites at two of its clinics. Among the injured were 71 children, 25 of them under the age of 15. The charity said 28 people were dead on arrival. Among the cases were an 8-year-old girl shot in the chest, and a 12-year-old boy hit in the abdomen. The charity described several injuries as precise and deliberate. 'The distinct patterns and anatomical precision of these injuries strongly suggests the intentional targeting of people within and around the distribution sites, rather than accidental or indiscriminate fire,' the report stated. Gunshot wounds recorded at MSF's Al-Mawasi Clinic showed 11 percent struck victims in the head or neck, while 19 percent were to the torso. In Khan Younis, injuries to the lower limbs were more common. One patient, Mohammed Riad Tabasi, said: 'We're being slaughtered. I've been injured maybe 10 times. I saw it with my own eyes, about 20 corpses around me; all of them shot in the head (and) in the stomach.' The report also documented 196 injuries caused by stampedes or chaos during aid distribution. One woman died of likely asphyxiation in a crush. Others, MSF said, were beaten or robbed after receiving food. The GHF took over much of Gaza's aid provision in May after Israel ended an 11-week blockade. But the operation has drawn mounting international criticism. A previous Sky News investigation linked GHF-led aid drops to spikes in fatalities, and UN officials have condemned the system as 'death traps.' UN experts this week called the program 'an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law.' They reiterated calls for Israel to restore access for UN agencies and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations. MSF echoed the demand and directly urged the US to end its support. 'Despite the condemnations and calls for dismantling it, the global inaction to stop GHF is baffling,' said Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, MSF's emergency coordinator. The IDF maintains that humanitarian access is not being obstructed. 'There is no limit of aid getting into Gaza,' Shoshani said. 'Every day, hundreds of trucks go into Gaza.' Israeli officials argue the GHF model prevents supplies being stolen by Hamas and ensures they reach civilians directly. Steve Witkoff, the US' special envoy to the Middle East, last week toured one of the sites. 'We're putting up money to get the people fed,' US President Donald Trump declared at the same time.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store