Doha: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, promotes child safety and protection in different aspects, including the Sidra Child Advocacy Program (SCAP) and Qatar Poison Center (QPC).
SCAP is the only program for the whole of Qatar for child safeguarding and is available 24 hours a day for telephone referrals to discuss any concerns about children’s welfare, said Division Chief and Senior attending physician, Emergency Medicine, at Sidra Medicine, Dr. Sudhakar Adusumilli.
“Appropriate arrangements will be made to examine these children followed by supporting these children and their families to deal with these difficult situations,” he told The Peninsula.
“Our SCAP team works with other partner agencies such as the police, legal teams, social work department and voluntary agencies such as Amaan and receive a number of referrals through our partner network,” he added.
In addition to this, SCAP team also promotes child safeguarding through professional conferences, media, educational and social events.
Qatar Poison Center (QPC) is another unique and free call-center service, which is also part of the Emergency Department at Sidra Medicine. The QPC helpline provides poisoning management and treatment advice for both children and adults, anywhere in Qatar.
“Callers will receive expert and timely poisoning management advice over the phone from pharmacists and physicians who have all been trained in clinical toxicology,” said Dr. Adusumilli.
“They can help with questions about exposure to or poisoning with household products; chemicals at work or in the environment; drugs (prescription, over-the-counter, herbal medicines or illegal substances); gases and fumes; snake bites including sea snakes and stone fish envenomation; spider bites or scorpion stings,” he added.
The QPC helpline is open to the general public and hospitals. It accepts calls in English and Arabic on 40031111 from 9am to 1am, seven days a week.
Qatar National Child Passenger Safety Program’s Ghalai has its checking station for the safe restraint of children in road vehicles at Sidra Medicine.
“Car safety for children is especially wearing belts and using car seats. This is a major concern and we are pleased that have a Ghalai car seat installation station now at Sidra Medicine. We strongly encourage parents and guardians to make use of this free service,” said Dr. Adusumilli.