More than 120 Pediatric Nurses gathered together in Dubai, attending the “Trusted Golden Care Forum†organized by Pfizer Nutrition, one of the world’s leading child nutrition companies. The forum is the first of its kind in the region for nurses. Nurses, often the unsung heroes, play a pivotal role in the health and well-being of our young and loved ones.
A total of four experts from the region presented the latest updates in the field of care and nutrition of infants and young children. Topics such as neonatal resuscitation, establishing breastfeeding, appropriate growth measures, and infants with special nutrition needs, were discussed.
Dr. Junaid Khan, CME Consultant, Neonatologist / Pediatrician, Chief of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Al Rahba Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE, commented: “Neonatal resuscitation skills are essential for all healthcare providers who are involved in the delivery of newborns.†Around ten per cent of all deliveries require special intervention by a skilled individual or team. Dr Khan’s lecture presented the very important role nurses play and the critical steps required to help newborn babies adapt and survive.
One of the important topics Pfizer Nutrition is keen to support is breastfeeding. The forum was hosted by Dr. Khaled El Atawi, Specialist Senior Registrar, Special Baby Care Unit, Al Wasl Hospital, Dubai, UAE. He said: “Breastfeeding is the ideal source of nutrition for infants and we all play important role in supporting and establishing breastfeeding.†His lecture highlighted the benefits of breastfeeding and its common pitfalls in addition to how to manage effective breastfeeding.
Once the baby is born and hopefully breastfed, it is essential to monitor the growth and well-being of the child. “Assessment of growth is an essential part of a child’s wellbeing. Measurement of weight, height, and head circumference as well as other specific measures help us assessing a child’s nutritional status,†said Dr. Tamer Adham, Consultant Pediatrician, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Ain Shamas University, Cairo and Head of Pediatric Department, Al Noor Hospital, Abu Dhabi. His lecture discussed the importance of growth assessment, the special growth charts available to the medical profession and how to use them. Nursing staff, again, play a critical role during these assessments.
“Infants may look the same, but they vary in their nutrition needs,†commented Dr. Hanan Anwar, Medical Director, Pfizer Nutrition Gulf and Distributor markets. In her lecture, Dr. Anwar outlined the recommended courses of management for infants with special nutrition needs, such as prematurely born babies, cow’s milk allergy, diarrhea and spitting up. “Breast feeding continues to be optimal source of nutrition for infants. In case breastfeeding is not an option, formula-fed infants with special nutritional needs should be identified and managed in order to support their growth and development,†she added.
“The successful program reflects our strong belief in the crucial role nurses are playing side by side with doctors in providing the best possible care for mothers and infants,†concluded Dr. Hamdy Fayek, General Manager, Pfizer Nutrition Gulf.
