The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has issued necessary updates in the licensing procedures for healthcare professionals in clinics operating in nurseries across the emirate. The new protocols have been issued in line with the DoH's objectives to strengthen the licensing procedures for nurseries according to their requirements and capabilities to enhance health and safety of children, parents and staff.

In this regard, the DoH has stated that nurseries willing to register a school clinic in their facilities as part of their licensing application are required to provide a school nurse, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, paramedic (EMT-P), general practitioner or physician assistant. If a nursery does not wish to license a clinic, it is required to ensure that a minimum of 10% of its staff has valid BLS and PALS certifications issued by an accredited international entity.

Speaking in this matter, Hind Al Zaabi Executive Director of Healthcare Facilities Sector at Abu Dhabi-DoH, said that the Department is working in collaboration with its partners in the education sector to identify the needs of healthcare sector and ensure the provision of necessary licensing procedures for schools and nurseries. This development is particularly crucial in view of the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department has expressed its willingness to update and improve the licensing procedures of healthcare professionals for nurseries. It is providing various requirement options to comply with the needs and capabilities of the nurseries.

"We are able to achieve the highest standards of compliance with the stipulated procedures, which will reflect positively on children’s health and safety. Several representatives of nursery department in the emirate welcomed the new updated procedures," he added.

Responding to the update, Kerryn Michna from Redwood nursery, extended support to the decision that helps in providing relevant training to maintain high standard in taking care of the health and safety of the community members.

"At KFG, health and safety is our top priority. We would welcome the new rules/decree announced as we would benefit from the opportunity to certify more than 10% of our staff with new training available to ensure health and safety remains a top priority," Kerryn Michna added.

Maya Zebib from Children House Montessori welcomed the decision and thanked the Department for updating the requirements for health professionals in nurseries. Zebib affirmed that the new regulations will provide a safer environment for nursery operations and ensure peace of mind for parents about their children's health.

"No doubt this is a great improvement on the current procedures and such measures will enhance the health and safety coverage for our children and staff," Zebib stated.

Emilia Brown, representative of Falcon British Nursery, extended support to the new initiative launched by the Department of Health for early years sector. Brown hailed the UAE government for responding to the issues of the sector and adjust to the criteria to support the industry.

"We are thankful that DoH has listened to us and assessed the challenges that we have faced in the early years sector. Now if 10% of the staff have basic life support qualifications, then a nurse is not required to be on premises which solves an issue all early years sector were struggling with. Falcon British Nursery is delighted with this news," Brown added.

In December 2020, DoH issued a circular in which it specified the licensing procedures for healthcare professionals employed in school clinics to take care of students from different age groups. Nurseries seeking to know more about the recent updates can contact DoH on [email protected].

WAM