Muscat – Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and Al Jisr Foundation have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) to establish Excellence Centre for Developmental Paediatrics at a cost of RO4mn.
The MoC was signed by H H Sayyid Dr Fahd al Julanda al Said, Vice Chancellor of SQU, and Nouf Abdullah al Hosni of Al Jisr Foundation.

The MoC aims to consolidate the concept of smart partnership between civil institutions and the public sector. It is also in line with SQU’s efforts to establish a centre for developmental paediatrics to serve the segment of society in need of this service, as well as maintain SQU’s pioneering role in pediatrics and training Omani medical cadres.

Dina al Khalili, general manager of Al Jisr Foundation, informed that the centre is expected to contribute to early detection, intervention and reduction of disabilities.

On her turn, Dr Watfa Said al Ma’amari, senior consultant of children’s health at SQU Hospital, said that the hospital provides diagnostic services for 70 per cent of children with developmental disorders and disabilities in Oman.

She added that statistics indicate approximately ten per cent of children have such disorders.
Dr Watfa noted that the 2020 e-census tallied 1,185,059 Omani children aged under 18, constituting 43 per cent of total the Omani population, which needs to be taken into consideration.
ONA