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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al Kuwari launched the Qatar National Child Passenger Safety Programme (QNCPSP)-Ghalai at the Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC).
During the launch, the Minister unveiled the country’s first Ghalai Drive Through test station at the basement parking of WWRC.
The station will be staffed by trained Child Passenger Safety Technicians who will help parents fit child safety seats in their car.
A new station will be launched at Sidra Medicine in 4 to 5 months. Ghalai is a Qatari word used to say someone like a child is precious to him.
At the stations, Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians will fit car seats in the vehicles for families as well as educate parents about proper seating techniques.
The stations will be staffed by CPS technicians who are trained as part of the Qatar CP Technician Development Programme run by Hamad International Training Center (HITC). The first purpose-built facility at WWRC is located in the basement parking and parents will be able to book appointments to have their car seats fitted.
The programme will be operated and overseen by Hamad Medical Corporation’s HITC. It’s joint venture between private and public sector including HMC, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Interior, Primary Health Care Corporation, Sidra Medicine, Qatar University, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, ConocoPhilips and Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co.
“Qatar is committed to ensuring that members of the community, especially young children are as safe as possible on roads. Child passenger safety is an essential element of Decade of Action (2011-20) global plan for road safety and we are proud that Qatar is leading the way with this unique and lifesaving service,” Kuwari said.
HITC Director Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen said with more than 20,000 births a year in Qatar, the new initiative can play a significant role in improving education and awareness of road traffic safety for newborns and young children.
The programme has a number of components that include child passenger technician training and certification programme, purpose-built car seat check/testing stations, school visit programme, direct engagement with member of the community and research and evaluation.
He said the programme will be rolled out in phases. It’s aimed to be integrated with safety needs of various sections, including pregnant women within the healthcare system; school and universities; automobile industry and car seat sellers and distributors.
“Sidra station will be inaugurated in the next four to five months. We have signed an agreement in this regard. We also plan to have a station in one of the malls.”
He further said, “The car seat check stations will enable parents and care givers to visit with an appointment or as walk-ins, and be provided with expert advice and demonstration on how to keep their children safe in the car and how to correctly select and use the appropriate car seat for their children.”
Currently the Ghalai programme booklet is in 15 languages and will be translated to more in the future.
National Traffic Safety Committee secretary-general Brigadier Mohamed Abdullah al Malki said that new legislations will be issued in the future to prevent children from getting injured during car accidents. “A number of people have been wounded due to traffic accidents. It is important that we preserve lives.”
He added that the new legislations will include the number of passengers on the back seat as well as making compulsory for them to wear a seatbelt. The current law requires the driver and the front passenger to wear seat and children below 10 years are not supposed to sit on the front seat. “Car seat is very important. It is one of the requirements when you have a child.”
Director of Media and Traffic Awareness Department Colonel Mohammad Radhi al Hajri said that even with the increase of vehicles on Qatar roads as the country prepares for the World Cup 2022 the number of road accidents has reduced.
DOHA
Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al Kuwari launched the Qatar National Child Passenger Safety Programme (QNCPSP)-Ghalai at the Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC).
During the launch, the Minister unveiled the country’s first Ghalai Drive Through test station at the basement parking of WWRC.
The station will be staffed by trained Child Passenger Safety Technicians who will help parents fit child safety seats in their car.
A new station will be launched at Sidra Medicine in 4 to 5 months. Ghalai is a Qatari word used to say someone like a child is precious to him.
At the stations, Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians will fit car seats in the vehicles for families as well as educate parents about proper seating techniques.
The stations will be staffed by CPS technicians who are trained as part of the Qatar CP Technician Development Programme run by Hamad International Training Center (HITC). The first purpose-built facility at WWRC is located in the basement parking and parents will be able to book appointments to have their car seats fitted.
The programme will be operated and overseen by Hamad Medical Corporation’s HITC. It’s joint venture between private and public sector including HMC, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Interior, Primary Health Care Corporation, Sidra Medicine, Qatar University, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, ConocoPhilips and Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co.
“Qatar is committed to ensuring that members of the community, especially young children are as safe as possible on roads. Child passenger safety is an essential element of Decade of Action (2011-20) global plan for road safety and we are proud that Qatar is leading the way with this unique and lifesaving service,” Kuwari said.
HITC Director Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen said with more than 20,000 births a year in Qatar, the new initiative can play a significant role in improving education and awareness of road traffic safety for newborns and young children.
The programme has a number of components that include child passenger technician training and certification programme, purpose-built car seat check/testing stations, school visit programme, direct engagement with member of the community and research and evaluation.
He said the programme will be rolled out in phases. It’s aimed to be integrated with safety needs of various sections, including pregnant women within the healthcare system; school and universities; automobile industry and car seat sellers and distributors.
“Sidra station will be inaugurated in the next four to five months. We have signed an agreement in this regard. We also plan to have a station in one of the malls.”
He further said, “The car seat check stations will enable parents and care givers to visit with an appointment or as walk-ins, and be provided with expert advice and demonstration on how to keep their children safe in the car and how to correctly select and use the appropriate car seat for their children.”
Currently the Ghalai programme booklet is in 15 languages and will be translated to more in the future.
National Traffic Safety Committee secretary-general Brigadier Mohamed Abdullah al Malki said that new legislations will be issued in the future to prevent children from getting injured during car accidents. “A number of people have been wounded due to traffic accidents. It is important that we preserve lives.”
He added that the new legislations will include the number of passengers on the back seat as well as making compulsory for them to wear a seatbelt. The current law requires the driver and the front passenger to wear seat and children below 10 years are not supposed to sit on the front seat. “Car seat is very important. It is one of the requirements when you have a child.”
Director of Media and Traffic Awareness Department Colonel Mohammad Radhi al Hajri said that even with the increase of vehicles on Qatar roads as the country prepares for the World Cup 2022 the number of road accidents has reduced.
