Image used for illustrative purposes. Photo: File
All students in Dubai will soon have a medical file accessible to schools, medical facilities, and parents. This initiative aims to ensure that all stakeholders involved in a student’s health are informed about their medical history.
“Currently, we are undergoing a complete system overhaul to ensure everyone is connected,” said Dr. Ramadan Alblooshi, advisor to the Director General of Dubai Health Authority (DHA), in an interview with Khaleej Times. “We will introduce a central medical file for students, shared with their parents and schools, ensuring that if a student transfers to a new school, the new institution will be aware of any pre-existing conditions or medications.”
Dr. Ramadan emphasized the importance of aligning the school health community. “This community includes teachers, principals, parents or guardians, and the students themselves,” he explained. “We need to integrate all these elements on a single platform.”
Dr. Ramadan, who also serves as the Director of the Public Health Protection Department, made these remarks during the Healthcare Future Summit in Dubai. He also highlighted the DHA’s upcoming focus on mental health in schools. “We have announced a mental health strategy for Dubai, with a particular focus on students,” he said. “This will address issues such as bullying, developmental challenges, and the needs of students with disabilities.”
Recently, several Dubai schools distributed a medical consent form from DHA’s Public Health Protection Department to monitor students’ health. The form sought consent for various preventive services, including vision and hearing tests, dental checkups, and comprehensive medical examinations. Additionally, a DHA vaccination guide emphasized the importance of keeping children’s vaccinations current.
The authority is also increasing awareness about HPV vaccines, recommended for administration at age 11 or 12 to protect against genital warts and cervical cancer. “The main challenge is not the vaccine itself but the awareness and acceptance among families,” Dr. Ramadan noted. “In the coming years, we plan to conduct numerous awareness sessions for parents, teachers, and even doctors.”
Dr. Ramadan aims to understand the factors influencing parental acceptance of the vaccine, such as concerns about price, safety, or other issues. “Another challenge is that post-Covid, many families have altered their views on vaccines. We need to address this as well.”
The Healthcare Future Summit, attended by over 3,500 participants and 100 brands from more than 20 countries, focuses on innovative advancements in vaccination and healthcare, including AI applications to enhance vaccine distribution and prepare for future pandemics.
Photo: Supplied
Professor Peter J. Pitts, associate commissioner at FDA and a speaker at the event, highlighted the conference’s emphasis on the value of vaccines. “The UAE is a global leader in valuable and cost-efficient vaccines that combat shingles, RSV, HPV, the annual flu, and other conditions that, if untreated, could cost lives and strain public healthcare resources,” he stated.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
