Qatar committed to ensure child passenger safety: Health minister

The Qatar National Child Passenger Safety Programme – Ghalai was inaugurated by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari on Monday at Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC).

Ghalai is a result of a long standing and unique collaboration between public and private sectors and the particpants are the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, (HMC),Primary Healthcare Corporation, Sidra Medicine, Qatar University, Conoco Philips and Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co.The General Directorate of Traffic director general Brig Mohamed Saad al-Kharji, National Traffic Safety Committee secretary-general Brig Mohamed Abdullah al-Malki, MoPH's Public Health director Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, Hamad International Training Center (HITC) director Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. At the launch, Dr al-Kuwari unveiled the country’s first Ghalai Drive Through Test Station at WWRC. The station will be staffed by trained child passenger safety technicians who will help parents fit child safety seats in their car. Several more such stations are planned in 2019 and will be operated and overseen by HITC.At the stations, child passenger safety technicians will fit car seats inside vehicles for families as well as educate parents about proper seating techniques. The first purpose-built facility at WWRC is located in the basement parking of the hospital and parents will be able to book appointments to have their car seats fitted.“Qatar is committed to work towards ensuring members of the community and especially young children are as safe as possible on Qatar’s roads.” Dr al-Kuwari said, assuring that “Child passenger safety is an essential element of Decade of Action (2011-2020) global plan for road safety and we are proud that Qatar is leading the way with this unique and lifesaving service.”The most common causes of improper child car seat use include ignoring the manufacturertarget="_blank"'>