In a bid to reduce the risk to babies on public roads, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has recently launched a new campaign.

Last month, the public health and safety department in collaboration with the Latifa Hospital and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched a campaign for, "Using rear-facing infant car seats for babies discharged from hospitals following delivery". The policy is in line with Dubai Plan 2021 and DHA Strategy 2021for reducing injuries and death from road traffic accidents.

With implementation of the new federal traffic law that came into effect on July 1, which mandates child seats for children up to the age of four years, this campaign holds much importance.

This official launch was held in the Latifa Hospital in the presence of senior DHA officials, RTA and key stakeholders who helped and supported in developing the policy.

Humaid Al Qatami, chairman of the board and director general of the DHA, said: "To create a safety culture in Dubai and to prevent road traffic injuries it is important to carry out awareness programmes among the people on the usefulness of car seats."

In Dubai, the number one cause of death for children under 14 year-old is road traffic accidents. Using car seats can reduce the risk of death and severe injuries by 71 per cent, according to statistics from the World Health Organisation.

Dr Muna Tahlak, the CEO of Latifa Hospital, commented that Dubai is a leading city in the world and one of the major goal of Dubai's vision 2021 is to be the place for innovative people full of health and happiness.

"As one of the oldest maternity and paediatric hospital in the emirate, we whole-heartedly support the policy that will protect children from injuries on the road," she said.

"Car seats and staying buckled up by using seat belts must be a priority for families as such simple measures can prevent injuries and save lives. And today with this important initiative for protecting kids from injuries, Latifa Women and Children Hospital has whole-heartedly supported in the development of the policy and will be initiating in its implementation," she added.

Dr Muhammad Wasif Alam, director of the public health and safety department, said: "This would be the first time such a policy will be implemented in the Arab world."

The policy was developed by the public health and safety department with the support of its stakeholders. Multiple seminars on policy awareness were carried out before the launch of the policy.

Dr Alam further pointed out that getting a policy approval is great but implementing it is even greater. "We are optimistic that we can promote usage of car seats in the community because we have the strong support of our leaders, healthcare professionals (especially the nursing staff), the RTA and Ministry of Interior," he said. In a recent study, 80 per cent of the mothers surveyed at the Latifa Hospital were in favour of having a law mandating usage of car seats in Dubai. The car seat policy campaign will be ongoing and it aims to cover all the major hospitals in Dubai while Latifa Hospital will be pioneering it and will work as a model for others.

Source: Khaleej Times