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The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) unit at Mafraq Hospital-Abu Dhabi celebrated its 30th anniversary through a reunion of NICU graduates at the hospital on 5th December 2013. The NICU unit also organized a symposium for Mafraq Hospital’s NICU graduates, their families and the professionals at the department. Themed “Celebration of Live” the symposium featured presentations by the practitioners that provided a leading-edge understanding of the condition.
The symposium “Celebration of Life”, was attended by 200 attendees who included former NICU graduates, their families, NICU physicians, nurses and other staff who cared for them when they spent their first week of life at the hospital.
“We are so excited to see how much the children have grown since we cared for them,” shared Omana Jacobs, Manager for the NICU department, who spoke alongside Dr. Taisser Atrak and Dr. Laila Obaid, all belonging to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mafraq Hospital.
“It’s simply amazing to see the NICU graduates who were once tiny babies and now growing children filled with the spirit of life. Some of them weighed less than two pounds at the time of birth and now to see them walking and talking, makes us feel proud. The reunion is a great opportunity to celebrate the miracle and the special bond that’s created between our NICU staff and the families who go through this very difficult experience. Apart from reconnecting with our little “graduates” and their families and sharing experiences, the NICU Reunion is a great platform to raise awareness about premature births in the UAE and the region”, she added.
Premature or preterm birth affects approximately 15 million babies globally. According to WHO (World Health Organization) one in every 10 babies is premature and around 1 million children die each year due to complications due to complications of preterm birth.
The main causes of preterm birth are:
• 30% are unexplained and spontaneous.
• 30% are due to multiple births (twins, triplets, etc)
• 20%-25% are the result of genital tract infection, preterm rupture of membranes, antepartum hemorrhage, cervical incompetence and congenital uterine abnormalities.
• 15%-20% are due elective preterm delivery due to high maternal blood pressure, fetal growth restriction, congenital abnormalities of the fetus, trauma or medical disorders of pregnancy.
• Having more than two preterm births increases the risk of having a preterm birth in a subsequent pregnancy by 70%.
Globally, prematurity is the leading cause of newborn deaths (babies in the first four weeks of life) and the second leading cause of death after pneumonia in children under the age of five.
Although the condition cannot be completely controlled but the developments in the prematurity care coalition over the past decade has halved the death rate deaths due to preterm birth, by ensuring that skilled health workers take care of the premature babies in addition to improving the availability, supply and access to life-saving drugs and equipments.
As a level III NICU, the highest level of care available in UAE, Mafraq NICU treats some of the area’s smallest and most fragile infants. The 26-bed unit provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for premature babies born as early as 23 weeks of gestation. Infants born this early face many health concerns, including respiratory problems, vision troubles, intestinal inflammation, jaundice and delayed growth and development. The NICU also cares for full-term infants who have serious health problems or require surgery shortly after birth. Mafraq’s NICU department admits more than 400 infants to the NICU and SCBU [The step down unit] each year and the only NICU with on-site neonatal surgery in the capital.
Dr. Taisser Atrak, NICU chief at Mafraq Hospital, also assisted the NICU team, and provided insights into the preterm birth rate and the role the NICU department plays in saving lives of the babies, he also spoke about the advance medical treatments provided by the hospital.
“It’s a great time for the staff to see the fruits of their hard work. We work really hard as a team to ensure the parents of these fragile babies are empowered with the right support and information they need”, he concluded.
The event was sponsored by Mafraq Hospital and AbbVie Gulf with additional support from Mustela and New bridge pharmaceuticals. The symposium was followed by an array of entertaining activities tailored to suit the NICU grads and the attendees.
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