ABU DHABI — The measure of a developed society is in how it treats its children, said Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research said in a
speech at the opening of the fifth International Conference at Al Noor Hospital (ICAN), ‘Paediatrics in General Practice-Towards Better Future’.
He said that children’s health is a global issue and although a great deal has been accomplished in terms of medical research, establishment of state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics, improved health awareness and increasing use of technology.
“Yet, research still shows that many children do not receive the quality medical care they need. Many easily managed conditions go untreated. It is increasingly evident that children’s health is not only a matter of disease prevention and medical care, but also of economic, behavioural and social contribution,” Shaikh Nahyan said.
In this regard, he pointed out that health care professionals face the challenge of providing universal and quality health care for all children, promoting family and behavioural changes, and nurturing across the professions and amongst sectors of the society a sharedcommitment to improve children’s health.
“Here in the UAE, our goal is to be leaders in improving children’s health. We strive to attain the most advanced technologies and to implement the most effective treatments. Abu Dhabi, in particular, is moving forward with ambitious plans to strengthen medical services available to children,” he stated.
He added that the Abu Dhabi leadership supports important initiatives that expand access to medical care,promote excellence in services and encourage partnerships with leading medical centres around the world.
In his welcome speech, Dr Kassem Alom, managing director of Al Noor Hospital echoed the success UAE has attained in being the “best Arab country in lowering mortality rates of children below the age of five, as stated by the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)”.
Organised by Al Noor Hospital in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital Boston, US, the conference was also attended by Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health. The three-day conference, which was attended by international group of specialists in various areas of paediatrics, will highlight recent issues including the national programme for premarital screening and neonatal screening, cases studies and lectures on stem cell transplantation, paediatric surgery, neurology, allergy, gastroenterology, infectious disease and H1N1influenza on children