A distinguished team from Caritas Baby Hospital (CBH) participated in the 15th International Rotavirus Symposium, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from September 30 to October 2, 2025. The CBH delegation included Dr. Musa Hindiyeh, Dr. Natali Rishmawi, and Majd Allaham, who represented the hospital with three scientific posters showcasing cutting-edge research on rotavirus and gastrointestinal pathogens in Palestine.
The presented research addressed three key topics: the types of rotavirus circulating in Palestine, the clinical presentation of rotavirus in vaccinated children, and the distribution of viral and bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens in children treated at Caritas Baby Hospital.
In recognition of their scientific contributions, Dr. Musa Hindiyeh and Dr. Natali Rishmawi received Travel Awards from the conference organizers for their excellent research projects. Majd Allaham was also honored with a Travel Award from the Rotavirus Foundation (RVF) for an outstanding research project.
Commenting on this achievement, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ra’fat Allawi said: “Participation in this prestigious symposium reaffirms CBH’s commitment to advancing pediatric infectious disease management and treatment for better child health outcomes”.
Caritas Baby Hospital is recognized as a leading institution in rotavirus research, particularly in monitoring rotavirus circulation among vaccinated children. The hospital maintains one of the largest pediatric rotavirus databases in Palestine, playing a pivotal role in highlighting the virus’s public health impact. This evidence was instrumental in supporting the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine into the national immunization program in Palestine.
