The Ministry of Health organized the Arab Conference for Child Health continuing for three days in Amwaj Rotana Hotel in Dubai. The conference was opened by Dr. Mostafa Al Hashemi, Deputy Director of Dubai Medical District and Director of Therapeutic Tourism in the Ministry of Health as well as a number of regional and international doctors who are specialized in paediatrics and neonatal surgeries.

The conference also highlighted issues that are related to nutrition, vaccines, infectious diseases, internal medicine diseases, neurology, transplants and autism disorders.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Dr. Mostafa Al Hashemi, stated that the Ministry of Health is very keen on improving the health services projects including the development of health facilities, hospitals and medical centers to fulfil the increasing demand of qualified doctors, administration staff and drugs.

Al Hashemi emphasized that the child’s health is a high priority for the Ministry of Health therefore it works closely with the UNICEF to combat obesity among children through specialized campaigns that would increase the awareness of a healthy lifestyle in the government schools. “The Ministry of Health believes that such important events enable the participants to exchange ideas, experiences and ideas to improve the health our children”, he added.

Furthermore, Abdulla Bin Souqat, Executive Director for Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, emphasized that the activities of the award are related to the improvement of child healthcare in the society. Child’s health is one of the important topics for CTGA which states that more than 1600 entry for genetic diseases and other genes that are related to genetic birth congenialities. Child’s health plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and discovering the diseases.

Additionally, Professor Tawfiq Bin Ahmed Khoja, Director General of the Executive Office of GCC Council Countries reviewed that the prevalence of obesity and non-infectious diseases that are associated with dietary behaviours and health oriented lifestyles as well as the negative impacts of economic trends and financial burdens of these diseases.

Meanwhile, Dr. Aisha Abdulla, Director General of Regulatory Sector in Dubai Healthcare City Authority, said: “We set strategies and policies that aim for improving the health results of child patients to raise the awareness of the community members with the child and adolescent disorders in the local society and government initiatives”.

Dr. Abdulla added that about 20% of these services focus on the rehabilitation centers that are specialized in psychiatry, orthopedic and neurology centers and statistics that are related to child rehabilitation.

The activities of the first day included several lectures and seminars: Dr. George Mazaregous, Head of child organ transplant and surgery in Petersburg Pediatric Hospital, delivered a speech about the current results and indicators of kidney transplant among children and causes of children intestinal failure. The organizing company of the conference also honored the winners of the “medical research in the pediatric field” competition-Dr. Khalid Al Atawi, Neonatal Specialist in Latifa Hospital won the first prize, Dr. Fadia Al Beheeran, Assistant Pediatric Professor in King Abdul Aziz Medical City won the second prize while the third prize was won by Dr. Neesha Patel, Fellow in genetic sciences department at King Faisal Specialized Hospital.

It is noted that the Arab Conference for Child Health is supported and sponsored by a number of medical authorities including: Executive Office of GCC Health Ministers Council, Dubai Healthcare City, Saudi Pediatric Medicine Association, Petersburg Pediatric and Comer Pediatric Hospital “two of the best specialized pediatric hospitals in the USA”, American Hospital in Dubai and Zahra Hospital.