All students in Dubai will soon have a medical file accessible to schools, medical facilities, and parents. This initiative aims to keep all parties informed about a student’s medical history.
"Currently, we are undergoing a comprehensive system overhaul to ensure seamless connectivity," said Dr. Ramadan Alblooshi, advisor to the Director General of Dubai Health Authority (DHA), in an interview with Khaleej Times. "We plan to launch a centralized medical file for students, shared with their parents and schools, ensuring that any transitions between schools are informed about the student's health status."
Dr. Ramadan emphasized the importance of aligning the school health community. "This community includes teachers, principals, parents or guardians, and the students themselves. 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.
Additionally, the DHA is set to focus on mental health in schools. "We have announced a mental health strategy for Dubai, with students being a key focus," he said. "This strategy 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 requested consent for various preventive services, including vision and hearing tests, dental checks, scoliosis screening, and comprehensive medical examinations. A DHA vaccination guide for parents also highlighted 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, the HPV vaccine protects against genital warts and most cases of 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 doctors."
Dr. Ramadan aims to understand the factors influencing parents' acceptance of the vaccine. "Are concerns related to price, safety, or other factors? Post-Covid, many families have altered their views on vaccines, so we need to address this shift."
The Healthcare Future Summit, attended by over 3,500 participants and 100 brands from more than 20 countries, focuses on advanced innovations in vaccination and healthcare. Professor Peter J. Pitts, associate commissioner at FDA and a speaker at the event, reinforced the value of vaccines. "The UAE is a global leader in providing valuable and cost-effective vaccines against shingles, RSV, HPV, the annual flu, and other conditions that, if untreated, can be life-threatening and strain public healthcare resources," he said.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
