Participants at the HMC summer camp during a session about the functions of Ambulance Service’s LifeFlights, yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula
DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) first of its kind a summer camp has inspired young Qatari children to consider a career in the health care sector.
The educational and inspiring sessions during the camp revolved around three aims including, offering children an insight into the important role their parents play in Qatar’s health sector, making them aware about the different segments of the medical care and inspiring them start a career with the HMC or in the wider health sector, says Abdulrahman Al Jouf, Head Teacher at the HMC Summer Camp.
The camp, held as a pilot project, was open to children of HMC’s Qatari staff and is expected to expand for others next year.
“The summer camp was inspired by the vision of HMC’s CHRO Fatima Haidar who is initiating, a number of programmes aimed at recruiting Qatari talent to HMC and encouraging a broad community interest by the community in the health sector of Qatar,” Al Jouf told media yesterday.
A total of 50 children signed up for the HMC summer camp in two age groups from 8 to 11 years and 12 to 14 years old. Bilingual sessions also gave participants the opportunity to learn from healthcare professionals and patients.
As part of the summer camp, participants yesterday had the opportunity to learn about role of HMC’s Ambulance Service including functions of LifeFlights.
Ahmed Mohammed Al Bakri, Operations and Public Relations Manager, Ambulance Service said, “It was an opportunity for us to show this young group of children about our services, equipment, staff and how we serve the community. They got to know about the role paramedics play in healthcare. So they can consider it as a career in future and be part of our HMC family.”
“It’s a way to attract young people to be a part of the service, it’s better to have Qatari citizens who are familiar with the area, culture and provide care to the community,” he added.
The participants also learnt about different services and facilities across the HMC such as basics of lifesaving, trauma care, dentistry, pharmacy as well as about the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute.
The two week summer camp will conclude today.
