Ministry of Health Launches ‘Postpartum Acceleration’ Initiative

Dubai: The Government Accelerators team at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP)has launched a new initiative to increase post-delivery follow-up visits to health facilities to 70%, especially in the first 6 weeks of delivery.

The new initiative “Postpartum Acceleration”, comes in line with the government accelerators concerned with the empowerment and entrepreneurship of women and will contribute to achieving the objectives of the government accelerators launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

The “Postpartum Acceleration” initiative will help enhance efforts and strengthen cooperation between the General Women’s Union (GWU) and Ministry of Health and Prevention, Department of Health-Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), UAE Gender Balance Council.

The initiative will be implemented under direct follow up from Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme, Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), Mother of the Nation, to speed up the execution of the government accelerators concerned with the empowerment and entrepreneurship of women.

The Importance of post-delivery follow-up visits  Dr. Hussein Al-Rand, Under-Secretary Assistant of Health Centers and Clinics Sector at the ministry, reaffirmed that the “Postpartum Acceleration” initiative aims to raise women’s
awareness on the importance of postpartum visits and enhance their health conditions. Hospital participating in the initiative include Tawam Hospital, Al Rahba Hospital in the capital, Latifa Women and Children Hospital and Hatta Hospital in Dubai, in addition to Fujairah Hospital and Dibba Hospital in Fujairah.

“The initiative is expected to yield positive results and ensure better health for mothers and children. The positive outcomes include an increasing proportion of women breastfeeding and enhance their awareness on its importance, improving the percentage of women undergoing early screening for cervical
cancer, detecting and early treating postpartum depression, which in turn will reduce maternal and infant mortality” Al Rand said.

The initiative will help to entrench the culture of medical visits and follow-ups among women after childbirth, to check on the health of the mother and child, and to conduct necessary tests. The visits will help the mother be aware of the psychological changes that may occur in her life, in addition to raising awareness of the importance of breastfeeding for her and her child.

The initiative will witness the launch of awareness campaigns and the distribution of educational brochures in addition to promoting awareness videos and messages on social media channels. 30 Government Entities complete the challenge in 100 days Earlier last June, Sheikha Fatime bint Mubarak announced the launch of the fifth batch of government accelerators concerned with the empowerment and entrepreneurship of women in the UAE with the participation of 30 government and private entities.

The participating entities will work on a number of challenges in 100 days, focusing on the quality of life of women in all stages of life, providing counseling services especially during the first marriage years, the introduction of the gender balance of the financial and banking sector, raising the employment rate for those with an emphasis on women, and providing specialized health care services for women after childbirth.

Government accelerators represent a future mechanism of action, involving joint working groups of first-class staff from federal and local government agencies, the private and academic sectors and community institutions.

Accelerators work in one place under one umbrella to accelerate the achievement of national agenda goals and performance indicators, accelerate services, policies and programs and implement government projects. Strategy, through dedicated and innovative spaces where joint teams work under the supervision of a team of global trainers, supervisors and competencies to achieve high, tangible and sustainable results in short time periods.