Ministry Of Community Development Completes Implementation Of 'Emirates Early Intervention Program'

The Ministry of Community Development completed rolling out the Emirates Early Intervention Program, which is designed to spot children with developmental delays or those at risk early on.

The program has now expanded its services in Ajman and Dibba Al Fujairah, with the new early intervention units expected to be up and running by the end of July 2024. This initiative is part of the federal government's performance goals for 2023-2024.

The project supports the Emirates Early Intervention Program's goal of making UAE society the most prosperous in the next decade and aligns with the 'We are the UAE 2031' vision," WAM reported.

This initiative follows the vision of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the guidance of Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to improve government work and achievements and align with the UAE's ten principles for the next 50 years.

By spotting developmental delays in children early on, the program helps raise parents' awareness of early signs and encourages them to watch for any unusual signs. Addressing these issues early can prevent potential disabilities later.

The program also trains families to monitor and support their children's development, helping reduce the gap between a child's actual age and developmental age by referring them to nearby early intervention units for quick support and treatment.

This approach not only improves their immediate situation but also helps them to enter the public education system and integrate socially with their peers after the early intervention phase.

The first phase of the Emirates Early Intervention Program started last year in December. This phase involved reviewing the best international practices for early intervention and conducting surveys in kindergartens and nurseries to detect developmental delays in children early on.

At the same time, the program hired specialists and set up equipment at early intervention units in Dibba Al-Fujairah and Ajman. These units also serve children in Sharjah and Umm Al-Quwain.

Since the start of the program, it helped three main groups of children under 6 years old: those with disabilities, those with developmental delays, and those at risk of delays.

The program also supports their families through the Early Intervention Center in Dubai and units in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. So far, the program assisted 1,398 children and their families and conducted development surveys on 7,102 children.