MOHAP Teams Up With WHO For Child Growth Assessment Workshop

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), recently conducted a training workshop for healthcare professionals in both public and private sectors. This initiative aimed to evaluate the growth of children under five years old to identify potential health issues related to malnutrition, such as overweight, obesity, wasting, and stunting. The workshop also focused on providing parents with necessary support and interventions to address these concerns promptly.

This event marked the second occurrence under the Child Growth Monitoring Programme, part of MOHAP's ongoing efforts to train healthcare providers across various sectors. Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, attended the workshop alongside Nouf Khamis Al Ali, Director of the Health Promotion Department at MOHAP. Healthcare providers from Emirates Health Services, Dubai Health, Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital in Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain were present. Private sector hospitals like Burjeel Hospital, Medcare, NMC Hospital, and University Hospital Sharjah also participated.

Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand stated, "The training workshop on monitoring the growth of children under the age of five is part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to enhance community health and improve the efficiency of our health system. It aligns with our commitment to the National Nutrition Strategy 2022-2030. We've seen great involvement from healthcare providers, and it's just one of many steps we're taking to enhance the skills of our health staff. By bringing them up to speed with the latest in paediatric care, we're really investing in the health of our future generations. We're committed to keeping up these efforts to ensure the best possible healthcare for all kids."

In October, MOHAP organised another training session focusing on collecting and analysing data regarding children's growth under five years old. This event aimed to establish a unified national data collection system. Participants were trained to examine current nutritional data for this age group and develop solutions for any identified challenges.

Nouf Khamis Al Ali emphasised that early intervention is crucial for children's proper health and development. She said, "The Ministry of Health and Prevention is ramping up its efforts to establish surveillance systems and ensure early detection of potential health issues in children, such as malnutrition." She added that they appreciate all healthcare providers' involvement in this area.

Khamis further highlighted that MOHAP is dedicated to continuing these workshops and training programmes to enhance their health staff's capabilities. "We really appreciate the involvement of all healthcare providers in this area. The Ministry is committed to continuing these workshops and training programmes to enhance our health staff's capabilities, equipping them with top-notch knowledge to improve childcare quality nationwide," Khamis added.

The workshop's primary goal was equipping parents with necessary support while ensuring healthcare workers are well-trained in paediatric care techniques. This initiative reflects MOHAP's commitment to improving community health by addressing malnutrition-related issues early on.

By organising such workshops regularly, MOHAP aims to strengthen its healthcare system's efficiency while ensuring better health outcomes for children across UAE. These efforts align with their broader objectives under the National Nutrition Strategy 2022-2030.

The Ministry remains committed to enhancing childcare quality nationwide by continuously updating healthcare providers' skills through targeted training sessions like these.

With inputs from WAM