ABU DHABI, 10th August, 2022 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre has activated the “Maternal and Child Health” programme, which takes place annually in August, in cooperation with 35 maternity and children’s hospitals in Abu Dhabi.
The move is part of the centre’s collaborative efforts to provide the highest levels of health care and maintain the health of the Abu Dhabi Emirate community, especially maternal and child health.
The programme is designed to improve women, infants, children, and families health and opportunities through preventive, evidence-based approaches, and evaluated by empowering the community, especially women and health care specialists.
The programme includes a set of preventive initiatives and periodic checkups related to maternal and child health, in conjunction with maternity and children’s hospitals in Abu Dhabi.
On the sideline of the event, Dr. Omniyat Al Hajiri, Executive Director of Community Health Sector at the Centre, said, “Promoting women’s health and woman empowerment is one of the UAE government’s national priorities, therefore, our wise leadership is actively working on aligning and harmonising efforts among various strategic partners to improve community health, direct healthy and preventive behaviour, develop public health policies and promote best practices to launch effective evidence-based initiatives to improve the level of services provided for women and children.”
The annual programme’s primary focus is to raise awareness regarding healthy pregnancy, antenatal screenings, newborn screenings and well-child visits. It emphasises the importance of attending periodic screenings on time to detect any problem early and provide the needed treatment.
Dr. Mariam Al Wahedi , Acting Director of the Community Health Department at the Centre, stated, “Maternity and child hospitals in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi has performed Newborn screening for 35,951 in 2021. According to MoHAP reports, the uptake of newborn screening in Abu Dhabi reached 98%, out of which 2,810 positive cases were detected. These disorders may affect the mental and physical growth of the child. In some cases, it can lead to death, if not early treated.
“The programme includes a series of virtual workshops to build the capacity of healthcare providers to promote newborn screening programme and to emphasise the importance of complying with the issued standards.”