Government Hospitals organises awareness forum on newborn hearing screening

Government hospitals organised a specialised awareness forum on newborn hearing screening with the participation of consultants, physicians, and healthcare professionals from government hospitals and primary healthcare centres.

The event forms part of efforts to strengthen early detection and prevention programmes and ensure the quality of healthcare provided to children from birth.

Dr. Mariam Athbi Al Jalahma, CEO of Government Hospitals, affirmed that the forum reflects Bahrain’s firm commitment to promoting a culture of preventive healthcare and equipping medical staff with the necessary tools and expertise to enhance service quality. She added that such initiatives contribute to safeguarding future generations and ensuring a healthy start for every newborn.

Dr. Al Jalahma expressed her appreciation to all participants and supporters of the forum, emphasising the importance of continuing awareness-raising efforts and highlighting the role of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department as a cornerstone of integrated healthcare services.

Dr. Mariam Khalil Sahwan, Chairperson of the ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Government Hospitals, noted that the forum provided a vital scientific platform to showcase the latest practices and techniques in early hearing screening. She stressed that these tests have become an essential part of integrated newborn healthcare, as they play a key role in enabling children to develop natural speech and communication skills. She affirmed that Government Hospitals Administration is committed to expanding the scope of this vital programme.

The forum affirmed that newborn hearing screening is a medical necessity, serving as the first step towards early intervention and effective treatment to ensure healthy development of a child’s language, cognitive, and social skills from the earliest months of life.