SCHS ISSUED MEDICAL PASSPORT FOR PERSONS WITH DOWN SYNDROME
Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) has recently issued a (Medical Passport) for people with Down syndrome. It aims at educating parents and pediatricians about the basic procedures and tests that they should run in accordance with internationally approved standards and conditions. The issuance of (Medical Passport) coincides with Down Syndrome Awareness Month (October).
Mrs. Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, SCHS Director, has confirmed that this step and the tests approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Genetics Committee (Health Supervision of Children with Down Syndrome) come within the framework of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services keenness to empower persons with disabilities by providing direct therapeutic, educational, cultural and rehabilitative services. It works to reduce the causes of disability by early detection and intervention. SCHS is keen to raise awareness and offer education services in general.
Important steps
According to Mrs. Mona, to make the best use of this passport, families of people who have Down syndrome must fill out the information page accurately first. Then, they should run the necessary medical examinations for their children annually according to the ages and dates specified for each examination.
Tests that parents must run for children with Down syndrome
Among these very important tests for people with Down syndrome are heart, hearing, vision, thyroid and examination of the neck vertebrae at the age of three years. This examination is performed (once in a lifetime) in addition to blood tests in general, given that people with Down syndrome are more likely to have leukemia, in order to ensure accurate scientific follow-up of the development of each case and thus avoid any sudden risks.
Mrs. Mona has confirmed that parents must follow up the results of their children with competent and concerned medical authorities in a timely manner. They must take note of any negative or positive development on the condition of their children and thus try their best to provide solutions to any problem before it aggravates.
SCHS cares to consolidate the relationships of cooperation with local, Arab and international bodies
The director of SCHS has indicated that the term (medical passport) includes the aforementioned procedures and has absolutely nothing to do with (traveling). She has confirmed that SCHS spares no effort to serve people with disabilities and develop partnership with institutions and agencies locally, regionally and internationally to promote their rights in various fields. The most important of which is their right in the field of Health Care according to international best practices.
In this context, SCHS has signed many agreements and memoranda of understanding that benefit persons with disabilities. These include agreements with the University of Sharjah including the College of Medicine, with its branches of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, in which physiotherapy is involved.
In addition, among these agreements is the agreement with the Kuwaiti Hospital in Dubai. It aims at providing health services to people with disabilities, including citizens and residents, and sharing experiences, studies, researches between the two institutions.