NewsDetail
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Sidra Medical and Research Center (Sidra) have organized a three-day workshop to discuss the protection of children against abuse and violence in homes and within the community.
Titled: “Protect us Young, We will Protect You Old” the workshop held recently discussed the formulation of a national and coordinated approach for handling child abuse cases in Qatar. The national process will apply to HMC, Sidra as well as medical services and healthcare institutions across the country.
HMC’s Pediatric Emergency Services Director, who is also the Division Chief of Emergency Medicine at Sidra, Dr. Khalid Mohamed Al Ansari said, “It is imperative to protect our children from violence in society. As healthcare providers, we have a very important role to play in developing and expanding the framework to prevent and eliminate child abuse and neglect. This workshop is the beginning of a long term collaboration between stakeholders from various organizations involved in dealing with issues of child abuse in the country.”
The workshop included discussions about putting in place a national process to address all kinds of child abuse (physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and child neglect) and the various government and support services required to handle cases. There were sessions that reviewed child abuse incidences in the country and how to improve services offered in the case of abuse.
The stakeholders that attended the workshop are from HMC, Sidra, Primary Health Care Corporation, Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, Mental Health Friends Association (WEYAK), Human Rights Department, Police Department and Medical Service Department (Forensic) at the Ministry of Interior, Supreme Judiciary Council, Community Policing, National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Family Prosecution, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children, Social Rehabilitation Center, Qatar Petroleum and Al Ahli Hospital.
“By organizing the workshop, we don’t want to wait until it is too late – that is once the child is abused or complains of abuse. We would like to act even before it happens and also take preventive measures by putting in place workflows and systems to coordinate all child protection services. Most importantly, it is also about educating the community that the problem of abuse is present and that we all need to work together to take action and protect our children,” noted Dr. Al Ansari.
“The Judiciary Supreme Council is always keen to participate in initiatives aimed at promoting justice and equality in the society. We have learned from other participants in the workshop, especially by sharing experience from existing cases of child abuse. We have also taken lessons as a whole group and filled the gaps in the process as we go on,” said Mr. Mohamad Ahmad Al Malki, Judge Assistant at the Supreme Judiciary Council.
“Child abuse is a problem in any society or community. Assessing child abuse requires a multidisciplinary approach. This initiative indicates the commitment from HMC and Sidra and the support from key stakeholders to address the issue and to immediately improve and develop processes to protect children. The more everyone is committed to the cause, the more we can strengthen a framework to support children and their families and offer the best child care services in the country,” concluded Dr. Al Ansari.
HMC staff across Pediatric Emergency Centers in Qatar have been trained on how to spot child abuse cases. If you are concerned about a child being abused, parents or guardians are advised to bring them to the Pediatric Emergency Center where a qualified team of child care specialists will diagnose the child and conduct medical checks. They will also ensure that the child and their family are directed to the right authorities so that the case is handled in the most humane and sensitive manner, without impacting on their rights or privacy.
