NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo Makes First Visit to Sheba Medical Center in the Hopes of Bringing Israel's Expertise to Congo

RAMAT GAN, Israel, Dec. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Beloved NBA player and Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo visited Israel's Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer last week to forge a collaboration between the Middle East's most advanced hospital and Mutombo's own medical center in his home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mutombo met with with Sheba's executives to discuss the details of their partnership. He then toured the Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital and The Edmond J. Safra International Congenital Heart Center, where he visited with sick Israeli and Palestinian children and gave away autographed basketballs to excited fans. He also got to experience firsthand the virtual reality technology at Sheba's Rehabilitation Hospital.

The shared goal between the partners is to provide Sheba's advanced medical knowledge to the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital – named after Mutombo's mother – which the NBA star founded in the DR of. Congo in 2007 as a personal project formed from his long-time interest and passion for healthcare.

"I believe that healthcare is a human right. It doesn't matter where you come from. I believe that everyone who is born, that is living on this earth, should have access to healthcare," said Mutombo.

He elaborated, "I have been greatly inspired by my visit to Sheba Medical Center and have seen some amazing technology. I believe that Sheba's humanitarian mission staff will be a great help to my people at the hospital I built in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I'm sure I will be coming back for more meetings in the future."

Sheba's leadership team was honored by the prospects of a future partnership, as it reflects their mission in providing healthcare to the Middle East region and the entire world. They have a long history of humanitarian efforts, such as their medical assistance provided to Zambia amidst a devastating cholera outbreak.

Mutombo met with senior members of Sheba Medical Center's staff, including Prof. Arnon Afek, Associate Director General and Acting Director of Sheba's General Hospital, Dr. Itai Pessach, Director of the Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital and Prof Elhanan Bar-On, who serves as Director of Israel's Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response. Prof. Bar-On affirmed Sheba Medical Center's commitment to work with the NBA player: "We feel that there's a lot in common in what we do and what is done by Mr. Motumbo, and I think we can definitely collaborate and take this to very beautiful places."

About Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer
Born together with Israel in 1948, Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East. Sheba is the only medical center in Israel that combines an acute care hospital and a rehabilitation hospital on one campus, and it is at the forefront of medical treatments, patient care, research and education. As a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, it welcomes people from all over the world indiscriminately. To learn more, visit: eng.sheba.co.il.

SOURCE Sheba Medical Center