Abu Dhabi relaunches 'Maternal and Child Health' programme

Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre's "Maternal and Child Health" programme, which takes place annually in August, has been relaunched in cooperation with 35 maternity and children's hospitals in the Emirate.

The annual programme's primary focus is to raise awareness regarding healthy pregnancy, ante-natal screenings, newborn screenings and well-child visits. It emphasises the importance of attending periodic screenings on time to detect any problems early and provide the needed treatment.

It also includes a series of virtual workshops to build the capacity of healthcare providers to promote newborn screening programmes and to emphasise the importance of complying.

It also aims to improve women, infants, children, and families' health and includes a set of preventive initiatives and periodic checkups related to maternal and child health.

Dr. Mariam Al Wahedi , Acting Director of the Community Health Department at the Centre, stated, "Maternity and child hospitals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi...performed newborn screening for 35,951 in 2021. According to MoHAP...the uptake of newborn screening in Abu Dhabi reached 98 per cent, out of which 2,810 (health issues) were detected."

The initiative is part of the centre's overall efforts to provide the highest levels of health care and maintain the health of the community.