Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Highlights Urgent Need for Awareness of Child Abuse in the Country

Experts Warn of Rising Incidence and Long Term Effects of Abuse;

Public Lecture Took Place on 4 December

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), managed by Cleveland Clinic, is tackling the global issue of child abuse at a public lecture on 4 December, as part of its monthly mental health awareness lectures for the local community in Abu Dhabi.

The lecture, which will take place in the Behavioural Sciences Pavilion (BSP) auditorium at SKMC from 7 - 9pm, is one of a number of efforts SKMC is undertaking to promote the cause and increase awareness around the issue. The lecture will invite the local community to hear from experts in the field of child abuse, while also providing the opportunity for an open and free question and answer session.

Citing recent studies and global data, experts at SKMC have warned of the rising incidence of child abuse in the region as well as the long-term impact on sufferers.

A recent Sharjah study that surveyed students from seven government schools found that nearly 40% were victims of threats of violence, 42% suffered from neglect, and 25% from physical abuse.

“Abuse can happen to children of all ages, all races, across any socioeconomic background, and most often it occurs at home at the hands of the people closest to the child, such as parents, relatives, family friends or baby sitters,” said Dr. Ahmed Almai, Consultant Child Psychiatrist at SKMC, and who will be leading the lecture.

“Many children in the region are subjected to all forms of child abuse and neglect - it is often ignored and sometimes even tolerated and accepted as a form of discipline. Abused children continue to suffer, without treatment, and most perpetrators of the abuse go unpunished. Confronting these realities is a necessary step towards the long and hard road to break the silence, and prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect in the region,” Dr. Almai continued.

Dr. Almai is the Chairman of the upcoming Second International Child Mental & Behavioural Health Conference set to take place January 24-25, hosted under the UAE Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Society as part of the Emirates Medical Association. The conference will bring together an impressive lineup of doctors, clinicians and researchers from around the globe to discuss the theme of “Protection of Children and Families.”

Dr. Rasha Al Nuaimi, Specialist Psychiatrist at SKMC who will also be speaking at the 4 December lecture, warned that child abuse statistics must not be solely relied on, and that child abuse is severely underreported in the UAE - with numbers growing.

“There is an urgent need for social awareness around the effects of child abuse and its hugely negative impact on the life of the child long term. We must continue to create and refine laws and mechanisms of protection for children as a priority, to raise a healthy generation,” Dr. Al Nuaimi added.

Also taking part in the lecture and providing insight is Dr. Khulood al Hammadi, a resident physician part of the Family Medicine program at SKMC.

This health talk is part of the Mental Health Awareness Program that started in March 2010, and includes a series of health talks in Arabic every month on different topics related to mental health and social problems. The invitation is extended to the public and SKMC's patients. SKMC is part of the SEHA Health System and is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA), which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.