Ministry of Health launches the National Early Childhood Initiative

Health Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi affirmed that early childhood care is “at the core of our health and development priorities,” adding that our responsibility is to provide every child with a supportive opportunity for growth and learning, and to support their families with the knowledge and services they need, as they are the primary partners in care.

This statement was made by Minister Al-Awadi during his speech at the launch of the National Initiative for Early Childhood, held two days ago. The initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and National Bank of Kuwait, aiming to establish an organized pathway for monitoring child development and providing integrated health and counseling support to families.

He stated that the Ministry’s vision for child health begins with attention to the fetus before and during pregnancy, and after birth, including health counseling, pre-marital examinations, and accompanying guidance and genetic evaluation when necessary. This approach seeks to create conditions for healthier pregnancies and reduce risks that may affect the mother and child, through care for newborns, vaccinations, and follow-up on growth and development.

He clarified that Kuwait has made progress in child health. The country’s file in the Sustainable Development Goals Index, issued by the UN Statistics Division, shows a decline in the under-five mortality rate from 12.7 cases per thousand children in 2000 to 8.8 cases in 2023. “This progress calls on us to continue working to protect children’s lives, enhance their growth, learning, and quality of life.”

He noted that the aforementioned initiative adds an organized pathway to the care system for monitoring child development and supporting families, comprising two integrated programs: the National Developmental Screening Program and the Bad’aa Platform.

He mentioned that the National Program relies on a standardized tool, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, to monitor aspects of child development, including communication, motor skills, problem-solving, and personal and social interaction. This contributes to identifying indicators that may require further evaluation.

The Health Minister pointed out that the Bad’aa Platform provides parents and caregivers with practical knowledge to help them understand child growth stages and enhance skills through play, interaction, and daily life activities.

He highlighted that joint working teams from the Ministry of Health and National Bank of Kuwait contributed to preparing this initiative, establishing referral pathways, preparing knowledge resources, and training staff. He explained that preparations included training 240 doctors and equipping 95 health centers, in preparation for implementation according to a phased plan with clear objectives and milestones.

The Health Minister emphasized that Well Baby Clinics in primary health care centers play a pivotal role due to their proximity to families and the regular follow-up and early counseling they provide. Their services integrate with pediatric departments and specialized centers to provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation according to each child’s needs.

For his part, Isam Al-Saqqa, Vice Chairman and CEO of National Bank of Kuwait Group, affirmed in a similar speech that the launch of the National Initiative for Early Childhood embodies a firm belief that building a more prosperous future for Kuwait begins with investing in future generations and caring for them during their early years, which is the most decisive and influential stage in shaping their cognitive and social abilities and forming their future.

Al-Saqqa said the initiative’s objective is to provide the necessary tools and support to help every child realize their full potential through two main pillars: the National Developmental Screening Program in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and the Bad’aa Early Child Development Platform, which will provide families with a reliable source of information, guidance, and support.

He added that National Bank of Kuwait’s contribution to this initiative, whose outlines began more than two years ago, stems from a national commitment and sustainable social responsibility. It is not limited to financial support alone but represents a model of role integration and concerted efforts between the banking sector and state institutions to empower families and provide an integrated health and developmental environment that nurtures the child in various early stages of life.

Al-Saqqa reaffirmed National Bank of Kuwait’s firm commitment to continuing support for national projects and initiatives with sustainable developmental impact, and to enhancing the constructive strategic partnership between the public and private sectors. This aims to improve the quality of life for community members and drive toward a healthier and more prosperous future for Kuwaiti children and their families.

For her part, Dr. Wafaa Al-Attiyah, Chair of the Pediatric and Neonatal Departments, stated in a similar speech that the initiative represents a qualitative leap in the care of Kuwaiti children, as early identification of children’s needs allows for timely support. The first five years are the stage during which the foundations of communication, movement, learning, and interaction with others are built.

Dr. Al-Attiyah noted that the joint team between the Ministry of Health and National Bank of Kuwait began its work in May 2026 and, within three months, established unified policies and referral pathways to regulate procedures following developmental screening and the precise referral of cases to appropriate specialties.

She explained that Well Baby Clinics were activated during evening hours in 12 health centers starting from the current week, alongside the training of 240 primary care doctors and the licensing of the developmental screening questionnaire in 95 centers.

She mentioned that participation in the Mother and Child Exhibition last month provided an opportunity to conduct screenings and introduce families to Well Baby Clinic services. During the event, developmental screening was conducted for 170 children, and 30 cases were referred to pediatricians in hospitals for continued follow-up and assessment, representing 18 percent.

She noted that the next phase of the initiative will include enabling appointments for evening Well Baby Clinics through the unified government electronic services application (Sahl), to facilitate family access to services and electronically integrate screening results into the patient’s file within the primary health care system. It will also involve training pediatricians in hospitals on the ASQ-3 questionnaire.

For her part, Dr. Nahed Al-Attiyah, Pediatric Developmental Medicine Consultant, emphasized the importance of developmental screening for children in detecting any potential delays in skill acquisition early, contributing to timely intervention and improving the child’s developmental trajectory and quality of life, as well as that of their family.

Dr. Al-Attiyah added that Well Baby Clinics play a crucial role that extends beyond monitoring weight and height, encompassing the monitoring of developmental skills and raising family awareness about the stages their children are going through and ways to support their growth and development through daily activities.