Strengthening infant health with an AI-driven support system

Insights By: Fatima Abbas

Dr. Hossam Al Tatari, Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at University of Western Ontario and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant, The Heart Medical Center, Al Ain, talks about the pressing challenges faced in child development.

Through optimal early childhood education and care, children equipped with firm foundations have better chances at school and better economic success in adulthood. Yet, the science and investment into early childhood development (ECD) is not at the stage it rightly deserves. Evidence suggests that every $1 invested in a child today, reaps between $7 and $12 during adulthood, but most importantly it has a positive impact on children. 

For this reason, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has established the WED Movement (World Early Childhood Development Movement). It is a forward-looking ‘glocal’ (globally thought and locally enacted) movement that unites the world's finest minds to tackle pressing challenges faced by Abu Dhabi and beyond, to positively impact the early development of today’s children. To achieve that, the WED movement has created the Breakthrough Working Groups (BWGs), which are four pluri-disciplinary groups made of world-leading policy influencers, academics, practitioners, innovators, private sector leaders, philanthropists, and beneficiaries. Each BWG identifies problem areas, proposes science-based solutions, and develops implementation programmes.  

Dr. Hossam Al Tatari is a member of the Breakthrough Working Group that focuses on the theme of ‘21st Century Lifestyle’ and its affects. “Between the age of zero and eight is a critical period for children, as they develop mentally, socially and physically. There is a belief that these age groups are not receiving the necessary attention from the healthcare and educational sectors. WED focuses on early childhood to support the vital development of children,” he explained. 

Dr. Hossam Al Tatari, Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at University of Western Ontario and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant, The Heart Medical Center, Al Ain

Present childcare ecosystems:

Dr. Al Tatari revealed that to drive discussions on how to improve early childhood, a decision was taken to establish brainstorming working groups, each addressing a different aspect related to early childhood.  “Three different groups were created, one focused on the ecosystem surrounding children, another on the negative impact of modern life on children, and the third on how it can be used to support children in a positive way. The BWGs worked very closely for more than a year to analyse the current situation. We started locally in Abu Dhabi, expanding from the emirates to an international focus. Based on our analysis and the status of early childhood all over the world, we came up with a set of recommendations that were submitted to the Early Childhood agency to improve all the aforementioned aspects,” he said. 

Application of AI and digital tools:

“The future is AI. We use AI in our daily lives in some form or the other...read more on Omniahealth.com.

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