Doha: Pre-term births at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) hospitals currently stand at about eight percent of all births every year, but significant improvements in the quality of health care for both mothers and newborns have resulted in increasing life rates among mothers and newborns.
Among the HMC network, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – Level II unit in the Al Wakra Hospital has 20 cots that are open and 70 to 80 percent of them are occupied throughout the year. It plays a major role in saving lives of pre-mature born babies, said Dr Khalil Salameh, Head of Pediatrics Department at Al Wakra Hospital.
“It mainly aims at stabilising the pre-mature born babies. Those need further surgeries or care will be transferred to Women Wellness and Research Centre or to Sidra Medicine depending on the requirement,” he told The Peninsula.
A premature birth takes place more than three weeks before the baby’s estimated due date. In other words, a premature birth is one that occurs before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy. Premature babies, especially those born very early, often have complicated medical problems.
The NICU at Al Wakra Hospital works closely with internal and external entities including gynecology/labor and delivery, surgery, emergency room and operating theater, the post-natal unit and home delivery.
“Our primary concern is to offer the best possible care and to create a safe environment for babies and their families – so that these children can go on to lead happy and productive lives,” said Dr Salameh.
“We aim for nothing but the highest standard of care and safety according to the stringent guidelines of international and local regulatory bodies. In order to achieve our aim, we have a comprehensive quality assurance system in place,” he added.
Al Wakra Hospital’s NICU is connected with Vermont Oxford Network, an organisation dedicated to establishing a worldwide community of practice providing all newborn infants and their families with the best possible and ever improving lives. There is also step down service, in which premature babies get transferred for follow ups to the Al Wakra hospital from the WWRC and other hospitals, due to logistic reasons. At least 15 to 17 such infants are transferred from WWRC and private hospitals each month.
It also runs Baby Clinic specialised in caring for premature babies of 30 weeks and more.
Al Wakra hospital handles around 6,000 deliveries per year.
The NICU functions under the Department of Pediatrics at Al Wakra Hospital which comprises four main units.
“The Department of Pediatrics at Al Wakra Hospital caters to the health of children in the southern neighbourhoods of Qatar. The department aims to advance the health of infants and children through innovative medical care, research, training, advocacy and continuing medical education. With its state-of-the-art facilities, highly trained medical teams and collaborative healthcare, patients are provided with the best quality of services,” said Dr Salameh.
The Pediatric Emergency Unit has 26 beds (distribution – triage rooms, examination rooms, resuscitation rooms, procedure rooms, observation and isolation rooms). It sees between 110,000 and 120,000 visit annually. 26 general pediatric beds are open at the Pediatric Inpatient Unit. It is 95 to 100 percent occupied all the time.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit has 11 beds and fully occupied. The General Pediatric clinic at the Outpatient department at the Al Wakra Hospital sees children up to 14 years.
