National Bank Participates in Opening Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Medicine Unit

National Bank of Kuwait participated in the opening of the Pediatric Evolutionary and Behavioral Medicine Unit at Al-Farwaniya Hospital, in its capacity as the main partner and supporter of the National Early Childhood Initiative launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The initiative aims to enhance early detection and intervention services for children, supporting their health and behavioral development during the first years of life.

The unit serves as one of the key pillars of the National Early Childhood Initiative, which seeks to promote child health and well-being through a comprehensive system that includes regular developmental screening programs for children, and raising awareness among families and caregivers regarding growth and developmental indicators during early childhood stages.

The Pediatric Evolutionary and Behavioral Medicine Unit at Al-Farwaniya Hospital is the first of its kind in Kuwait, integrating medical and rehabilitative specialties under one roof. It combines physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language and swallowing therapy, and psychology services within a unified framework that facilitates coordination of assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention across various specialties. This integrated model simplifies access to diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services for children and their families in one location, thereby enhancing opportunities for early intervention and improving the quality of care provided to children.

The unit operates in collaboration with Kuwait University, providing diagnostic, treatment, follow-up, and scientific research services for children aged one to 14 years who have autism spectrum disorder, global developmental delay, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or learning disabilities. Services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team employing an integrated approach that places the needs of the child and their family at the core of care.

Coinciding with the unit’s opening, the Ministry of Health continues to implement the Child Developmental Screening Program, which aims to monitor children’s growth and development trajectories and detect any delays or developmental difficulties at an early stage. This enables effective intervention and improves long-term health and educational outcomes.

The initiative also supports the use of the “Bida” application, which provides parents with an easy-to-use digital tool to track their children’s development, view expected developmental milestones for each age group, and access relevant health information and awareness guidance.

The opening ceremony was attended by several pediatric and neonatal physicians, nursing staff, and child caregivers at the hospital. It included an open discussion session to introduce the unit, its objectives, and its services, as well as presentations by the work team and an overview of the “Bida” application for monitoring child growth and development. Additionally, a presentation was delivered on the Child Developmental Survey Program in the State of Kuwait.

National Bank of Kuwait’s participation in this opening event stems from its ongoing commitment to contributing to the development of specialized healthcare services in Kuwait, supporting initiatives focused on child health and well-being, and strengthening effective partnerships between the public and private sectors to serve the Kuwaiti community and leave a sustainable impact on future generations.

On this occasion, Farah Bastaki, Assistant Vice President – Digital Communications Department at National Bank of Kuwait, stated: “We believe that building a more prosperous future for Kuwait begins with caring for its children, especially during the first years of life, which constitute a fundamental stage in a child’s growth and the development of their capabilities. From this perspective, we have been keen to support the National Early Childhood Initiative from its early stages, more than two years ago, and contribute to transforming it into a comprehensive national project aimed at supporting children and their families and enhancing opportunities for healthy growth from birth.”

Bastaki added:

“The National Early Childhood Initiative exemplifies a distinguished model of public-private partnership, bringing us together under a shared goal of providing the necessary support to children and empowering their families with the knowledge and tools that enable them to monitor their children’s growth and development with confidence, thereby contributing to enhancing quality of life and achieving the best outcomes for children in their early years.” She added, “The National Developmental Screening Program constitutes one of the foundational pillars of the initiative, as it contributes to strengthening the monitoring of children’s growth and supporting the early detection of any developmental challenges or needs, based on the importance of early intervention in improving growth and developmental opportunities and quality of life. Furthermore, the implementation of ‘Bada’ fits within this integrated system, providing families with reliable information that helps them understand their children’s developmental stages and track their progress.”