On the occasion of the visit by the official delegation of the French National Academy of Medicine, Hôtel-Dieu de France (HDF) hosted the inauguration ceremony of the Dr. Philippe Kfouri Room, named in honor of one of the great figures of Franco-Lebanese medicine.

The event was held in the presence of Professor Christian Boitard, Perpetual Secretary of the French National Academy of Medicine; Professor Jacques Belghiti, Deputy Secretary of the Academy; Professor Jean-Marc Ayoubi, corresponding member of the Academy; and Mr. Albert Kfouri, President of the Malte Lebanon Association. Numerous distinguished guests from the medical, administrative, and academic communities—both from HDF and Saint Joseph University of Beirut—were also in attendance.

Mr. Nassib Nasr, Director General of the USJ-HDF hospital network, opened the ceremony by paying tribute to Dr. Kfouri and recalling HDF’s historic mission as a center of care, knowledge transfer, and Francophone excellence. He emphasized that this moment of recognition reflects an enduring commitment to strengthening ties between France and Lebanon in service of both medicine and humanism:
"By naming our multipurpose room after him, we are honoring his memory and reaffirming our commitment to the values he embodied: rigor, vision, and humanity. This solemn occasion is also a celebration of the enduring friendship between our two nations through a dynamic and forward-looking medical partnership."

Speaking on behalf of the Kfouri family, Mr. Albert Kfouri delivered a deeply moving and forward-thinking address, calling for the spirit of remembrance to be transformed into a drive for scientific advancement, with the ambition of establishing Beirut as a leading center of medical research in the Middle East.

Professor Christian Boitard highlighted the origins of the Dr. Philippe Kfouri Prize, the result of an initiative within the Academy to enhance international collaboration, particularly with Lebanon. He noted that the first recipient of the prize, Dr. Hampig Kourie, a hematologist-oncologist at Hôtel-Dieu de France, was recognized for his outstanding work carried out in partnership with the Georges-Pompidou Hospital in Paris.

Taking the floor, Professor Jacques Belghiti spoke about the Academy's ongoing commitment to supporting medical research, notably through over forty prizes awarded each year thanks to donations and bequests. He praised the creation of the Kfouri Prize, underlining its strategic role in strengthening Franco-Lebanese scientific ties.

Professor Jean-Marc Ayoubi expressed his pride in seeing the Kfouri Prize evolve into an annual recognition, and warmly congratulated the laureate once again for the excellence and relevance of his project. He added:
"For us, this hospital is a true forward base for Francophone medicine in the Near East. Over the years, it has trained outstanding physicians."

The ceremony also paid tribute to the exceptional life and work of Dr. Philippe Kfouri, born in Beirut in 1894, exiled to France in 1915, and a pioneer in the fight against tuberculosis. A naturalized French citizen in 1927, he developed an innovative tuberculin test that was authorized for sale in October 1944, just weeks before his passing at the Institut Pasteur. His work was continued and industrialized by Dr. Charles Mérieux, significantly advancing global efforts to prevent the disease.

The event concluded with a reception, honoring a legacy of memory, tribute, and the shared scientific values that unite France and Lebanon.

Jezzine Governmental Hospital, in collaboration with Hôtel-Dieu de France, organized a health screening day for all residents of the region, as part of an initiative aimed at promoting comprehensive health prevention in the area.

The event included general medical consultations and free blood tests, which benefited over 100 individuals from different age groups. In addition to medical check-ups, each participant received psychological consultations provided by specialized professionals, with the goal of raising awareness about the importance of mental health.

This event marked the official launch of the collaboration between Jezzine Governmental Hospital and Hôtel-Dieu de France, with the aim of establishing a shared foundation that will contribute to improving the quality of healthcare in Jezzine and neighboring villages.

The success of this health day highlights the importance of joint initiatives and cooperation between public and private health institutions, and the essential role of collective efforts in delivering healthcare services that meet the community’s needs — especially in light of the ongoing crises.

On the occasion of World Hand Hygiene Day, the HDF Hospital Hygiene Unit mobilized for a two-day awareness campaign, following the WHO theme: “Gloves are no substitute for hand hygiene”.

During these two days, an interactive stand in the hospital's lobby, Hall Khalil Mitri Assha, staffed by HDF nurses offered visitors an enriching experience aimed at highlighting the importance of maintaining good hand hygiene.

The campaign included information and interactive activities, demonstrations of good practice, and hand hygiene tests with ultraviolet machines.

Congratulations to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit team at Hôtel-Dieu de France, who recently completed training in developmental care based on the NIDCAP model (Neonatal Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program).

This program aims to improve the care of premature or vulnerable newborns by:

• Protecting their neurological development

• Reducing their exposure to environmental stress

• Strengthening parental involvement in their child’s care from the time of hospitalization

Following an individualized, baby-centered approach, NIDCAP is based on careful observation of the infant’s behaviors and signals, in order to tailor care in an appropriate and compassionate way.