Picture of S-CAP team members - Heather and Tawney.
Doha: In an important initiative, Sidra Medical and Research Center has launched a programe dedicated to protect children from abuse or neglect at home, school and other places.
Known as the Sidra Child Advocacy Programe (S-CAP), it will be leading child protection efforts in Qatar and will be based at the Sidra Outpatient Clinic.
S-CAP will operate through a referral based system in partnership with other healthcare providers in the country.
Unlike other services at Sidra, schools also can refer suspected child abuse cases to the S-CAP. Also referrals would be from within Sidra, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), primary health care centers and private hospitals. Referrals can be made by phone by calling +974 4003 7227 or emailing to [email protected] during working hours.
“If a school administrator or nurse suspects a child has been abused or neglected, they can call the S-CAP hotline or send an email,” a member of the S-CAP team told The Peninsula yesterday.
“The S-CAP team will then evaluate and review the referral and then guide the school regarding next steps. Depending on the case, the S-CAP team may recommend that the child be taken to the paediatric emergency center or an appointment with the S-CAP team will be set up. Either way, the S-CAP team will also provide counselling and advise if the school needs to reach out to parents or guardians regarding their concerns,” said the member.
The S-CAP team has already reached out to schools to inform them about the program.
The team consists pediatric healthcare professionals including experts from medicine, nursing, social services, child life and psychiatric support services who specialize in the healing process for children and their families. Staff have been trained to recognise signs of abuse, including psychological abuse and neglect. They have also been trained about reporting and legal procedures, while complying with privacy and confidentiality requirements.
Sidra working closely with Ministry of Interior for Child Advocacy Program
The launch of S-CAP follows a series of workshops held mid last year in collaboration with HMC, where Sidra’s Division Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr Khalid Mohamed Al Ansari (pictured), first outlined his vision for a national child abuse prevention strategy and service network with health organisations at the forefront.
“The Sidra Child Advocacy Program is the culmination of a concerted effort to truly support the health, wellbeing and development of a child who has been the victim of abuse or neglect. We will provide the resources and support network to help children and families go through what can be a distressing time. We are also extensively training our staff and working closely with other organisations to reinforce a team based approach that will ensure that the child’s needs and safety will always be a priority,” Dr Al Ansari said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines child abuse, also referred to as maltreatment, broadly, to include all forms of treatment which cause potential or actual harm to a child’s health, development or dignity. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and exploitation are all within this definition.
S-CAP will be the advocate in Qatar for children by coordinating the services needed for their safety and well being. This will involve facilitating access to a comprehensive network of supportive and educational services to protect children and strengthen families and communities.
“We are working very closely with key stakeholders such as law enforcement and forensic medicine agencies under the Ministry of Interior, the Protection and Social Rehab Centre and the Family Consulting Center.
Our close collaboration with government organisations and the wider community is based on developing and building a national effort committed to protecting and caring for children. It is important that victims of abuse or neglect as well as healthcare and social service professionals understand and feel assured that there are services and measures in place to help,” said Dr Al Ansari.
