Al-Hasawi: Kuwait’s global excellence in child health care
The Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Munther Al-Hasawi, emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to children’s health, highlighting its prominent international standing in this area. He noted that the ministry has made child protection a top priority by establishing the Higher Committee for Child Protection, which has laid the groundwork for plans and measures to safeguard children from abuse and neglect.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency during the second awareness day for children’s rights, Dr. Munther Al-Hasawi emphasized Kuwait’s spotless international record on children’s rights. He highlighted the country’s commitment through the Child Protection Law and its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, stressing that this commitment stems not only from legal obligations but also from moral and religious principles to ensure a dignified, abuse-free life.
Dr. Al-Hasawi noted that the Ministry of Health has established a dedicated child protection office, formed specialized teams, and launched a 24/7 Hotline -147, to handle complaints and reports of children’s rights violations confidentially, safeguarding the identity and data of the reporter.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Hasawi emphasized that the Child Protection Office exemplifies collaboration between the Ministry, other governmental and non-governmental bodies, and civil society, adopting a multi-sectoral approach to develop and implement national strategies aligned with global frameworks.
Dr. Al-Hasawi reaffirmed Kuwait’s dedication to advancing children’s rights, improving their well-being, and supporting global efforts despite significant challenges impacting the provision of a safe environment for children worldwide.
Moreover, Dr. Al-Hasawi emphasized that the awareness day showcases the Ministry’s efforts to promote children’s rights, educate the public, and highlight the hotline campaign where specialists confidentially handle reports of child rights violations and abuse.
The Head of the Child Rights Protection Office, Dr. Mona Al-Khawari, stated that the Higher Committee for Child Protection has laid the groundwork to safeguard children from abuse and neglect, with the two-day event featuring various awareness and educational activities.
Dr. Al-Khawari highlighted the national multi-sectoral strategy to prevent and address violence, emphasizing efforts to promote a culture of child protection, monitor cases of neglect and abuse, analyze their causes, and propose solutions in collaboration with relevant authorities.
What’s more is that Dr. Al-Khawari emphasized that the Supreme National Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights has implemented decisions to enhance coordination among government sectors, ensuring optimal outcomes for child protection efforts.
Dr. Al-Khawari stated that the Child Protection Office in the Ministry is tasked with managing cases of abuse and neglect, overseeing child protection teams across hospitals in various governorates, and ensuring the proper follow-up of cases, including evaluations, interventions, and referrals to the appropriate authorities until resolution.
Dr. Al-Khawari explained that all procedures are carried out with complete confidentiality, ensuring that child victims receive health services discreetly and their cases are handled with the utmost privacy.
For his part, Waleed Al-Khashti, the CEO of Corporate Relations and Affairs at Zain Kuwait, stated that Zain is the strategic partner of the Ministry of Health in sponsoring this awareness celebration. He highlighted that the company sponsors numerous health projects that aim to benefit the community.
Al-Khashti explained that there had been previous cooperation in the field of child protection through the launch of an awareness campaign for the hotline to receive complaints. He noted that the hotline had recently seen an increase in calls reporting violations, thanks to the Ministry’s continuous awareness efforts in collaboration with Zain.
To conclude, Al-Khashti explained that the Hotline – 147, which Zain has allocated to the Ministry’s Child Protection Office since 2016, provides a direct and confidential point of contact for reporting all cases of violence and abuse against children within Kuwait. He noted that the campaign targets all segments of society; including individuals, institutions, ministries, and public benefit associations.
Source: Al Rai
