NBK participates in the opening of the Pediatric Evolutionary and Behavioral Medicine Unit at Farwaniya Hospital

Kuwait National Bank 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 foundational pillars of the National Early Childhood Initiative, which seeks to improve 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 clinic 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 interventions 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 working within an integrated approach that places the needs of the child and their family at the core of care.

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

Kuwait National Bank’s participation stems from its ongoing commitment to contributing to the development of specialized healthcare services in the State of 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 the bank, 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 capability development. From this perspective, we were keen to support the 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 initiative exemplifies an outstanding model of public-private cooperation, united by a common goal of providing necessary support to children and empowering their families with the knowledge and tools that help them confidently monitor their children’s growth and development, thereby contributing to improved quality of life and achieving the best outcomes for children during their early years.”

She continued: “The National Developmental Screening Program constitutes one of the key pillars of the initiative, as it contributes to enhancing the monitoring of children’s growth and supporting early detection of any challenges or developmental needs. This is based on the importance of early intervention in improving growth and development opportunities and quality of life. Additionally, the ‘Bida’ application is part of this integrated system, providing families with reliable information to help them understand their children’s growth stages and monitor their development.”

She emphasized that “Al-Watani” is always keen to be an active partner in supporting initiatives that address the genuine needs of society, particularly in the health sector, which represents one of the main pillars of the bank’s corporate social responsibility programs. She noted that over the past years, the bank has continued to support numerous health, awareness, and rehabilitation projects and initiatives, driven by its conviction in the importance of contributing to the development of services provided to society and enhancing their positive impact on all segments of the community.