Okaz/Saudi Gazette BURAIDAH — Though two months have passed since the death of Dr. Hisham Al-Sayed Abdul Jaleel, the residents of Al-Shinanah, a village in Qassim province, still mourns him. The Egyptian doctor served them for 16 long years at the local health center. More than 3,000 people took part in the funeral prayer for him and followed his body to the graveyard where he was laid to rest. The villagers pooled a huge amount of money to establish three endowments for charity in his name. They also sent SR500,000 to his family in Egypt. Abdul Rahman Al-Khalifa, a teacher, delivered the amount to his heirs in Alexandria. He also handed them a citation expressing thanks and appreciation for his dedicated service at the local health center. Khalifa said Abdul Jaleel was not an ordinary doctor who would do his job and then go home to rest. "He used to work for 12 hours and more every day in the health center without asking for any overtime payment for the extra hours of work until his death at the age of 60 of heart attack," he said. The villagers said the late Egyptian doctor could tell all their names and used to send them reminders about follow-up appointments at the health center. "He never asked for money but will ask his patients to pray for him," a villager said. Youssef Al-Khalifa, a villager, said Dr. Abdul Jaleel used to give special attention to the old men and women and would even deliver the medicines to them right at their homes. "He was like my own son. He used to communicate with me, ask me about my health and deliver the medicines to me at my home," said an old lady, who did not want to be identified by name. The endowments established in the name of the late doctor included a home for the orphans, which was built at a cost of SR15,000, a Qur'an memorization ring at the cost of SR10,000 and a home for expatriate communities at a cost SR15,000. All the villagers came together to do what they did for their beloved doctor but they thought it was much less than what he deserved. Dr. Mohammed Al-Khalifa, the director of the health center in Al-Shinanah, said the center never had such a dedicated doctor. "He loved his work and his patients. He used to stay in the center for long hours. The working hours end at 4 p.m. but Dr. Abdul Jaleel used to remain in the center until 8 p.m. and beyond," he said. Khalifa said though Dr. Abdul Jaleel was suffering from heart problems, this did not in any way affect his work. He also said the late doctor was keen on developing himself and used to attend conferences and training sessions during his vacations. "Dr. Abdul Jaleel has gone but his work is still very much alive. We all pray for him all the time," he concluded.
