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If you’re a new mother in Abu Dhabi, or are about to have a baby, you can enjoy free prenatal and prenatal care in August to ensure you and your baby are healthy.
The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) organises a ‘Mother and Child Health’ programme every August, giving mothers the option to visit any of the participating women’s and children’s hospitals in Abu Dhabi.
Gulf News spoke with Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, Executive Director of ADPHC’s Community Health Unit, to find out how women and children can benefit from the programme.
What health checks can you get through the program?
“The programme includes a range of preventive measures and regular check-ups related to the health of mothers and babies and works with the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Abu Dhabi. The programme aims to improve the health of women, babies, children and families through a preventive and evidence-based approach and the opportunities available to them,” said Dr Al Hajeri.
The three screening programs available to women and children are:
1. Prenatal Checkup
The purpose of this screening is to ensure that all women receive counselling before pregnancy and during the antenatal period.
2. Newborn Screening
The purpose of newborn screening programs is to detect potentially fatal or disabling conditions in newborns as early as possible. This is done in four ways:
– Body checkup
– Hearing screening
– Screening for critical congenital heart disease
– Heel prick test. This is a major test to detect developmental, genetic and metabolic disorders in newborns.
3. Good Children Visit
Well Child visits allow doctors and parents to keep a close eye on a child’s overall health and development. It also helps them detect possible health problems early, giving children a better chance of receiving appropriate treatment and necessary medical supervision.
Do I need to pay for access?
According to ADPHC, all screenings in the program are covered under the individual’s insurance.
Which hospitals can I go to?
All 35 maternity hospitals and clinics in Abu Dhabi offer prenatal and newborn screening and are licensed by the Ministry of Health. To find your nearest hospital or clinic, just follow these steps:
– Visit the Ministry of Health website www.doh.gov.ae and click on “Resources”.
– Click on “Lists and Tools” and you will be taken to a page with a list of services.
– Select “Find a Medical Institution” and the website will give you all the hospitals and clinics you can visit around your area.
For Well Child visits, you can visit any ‘Outpatient Medical Centre’ managed by Ahu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA). Seha operates 38 medical centers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. To find a center near you, just follow these steps:
– Visit the Seha website – ahs.seha.ae
– Click “Our Facilities” from the menu at the top of the screen.
– From the drop-down menu, select your city of residence (Abu Dhabi or Al Ain) and under Specialties select Healthy Baby Clinic.
– The website will provide you with information on all the centers you can access.
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