Emirates Down Syndrome Association and Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, the first and only paediatric hospital in the UAE, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to enhance the range of health services offered to the people with Down syndrome and improving the quality of their lives.

The MoU was signed by Emirates Down Syndrome Association Chairperson, Dr. Manal Jaroor, and Dr. Mohammed Al Awadhi, COO of Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital.

Dr. Jaroor expressed her gratitude and appreciation to Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital for this initiative, pointing out that the association is constantly seeking to provide comprehensive services for people with Down syndrome, especially health services, as it comes at the top of priorities for the association to achieve its vision to better the lives for people with Down syndrome.

Dr. Jaroor emphasised the special medical care given by the association to people with Down syndrome and highlighted the fact that this partnership will provide them with new health services that contribute to improving their lives.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Awadhi said that the signing of the MoU is part of the hospital’s strategy to expand its medical services to include the largest number of children in the country, in addition to strengthening the collaboration and coordination between the association and the hospital to achieve the common goals in providing best healthcare for people with Down syndrome.

Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, as per the MoU will provide quality and unique medical services for all problems related to sleep for children of all ages, from newborns to adolescents at the Sleep Disorders Center. The centre includes a state-of-the-art sleep laboratory and behavioural sleep clinic, a medical sleep clinic and a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence programme. There are other medical services available that are supervised by a group of specialists in the field of chest and lung diseases for children, psychologists, psychotherapists, paediatric respiratory therapists, and sleep technicians.

The MoU outlined areas of cooperation and special discounts packages on various services. The memorandum also included organising a medical event three times a year and providing medical lectures to people with Down syndrome and their families to spread health awareness and advise families on how to deal with sleep disorders.