Al Qassimi Hospital wins WHO–UNICEF “Baby-friendly” title again

August 14, 2025 / 5:47 PM

Sharjah 24: Al Qassimi Women’s and Children’s Hospital, part of Emirates Health Services (EHS), has received the “Baby-friendly Hospital” title for the second time after passing a comprehensive evaluation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), carried out through the National Committee for Motherhood and Childhood at the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

Commitment to WHO standards

The award reflects the hospital’s adherence to WHO’s breastfeeding policy and ten key steps, alongside compliance with international and local codes to ensure high-quality maternal and child healthcare. It underlines the hospital’s success in fostering a supportive environment for mothers, providing educational sessions before and after birth to encourage healthy practices.

Dr Safia Al Khaja’s remarks

Hospital Director Dr Safia Al Khaja congratulated the management and staff, stressing that the nation’s leadership played a vital role in achieving this distinction again after first receiving it in 2021. She said the award demonstrates the hospital’s ongoing excellence and readiness to meet healthcare challenges.

Part of a wider EHS achievement

The “Baby-friendly Hospital” initiative, launched by WHO and UNICEF, promotes breastfeeding and improves services for mothers and infants through training and supportive policies. Al Qassimi Women’s and Children’s Hospital now joins six other EHS hospitals—Al Dhaid Hospital, Khorfakkan Hospital, Kalba Hospital, Al Kuwait Hospital Dubai, Fujairah Hospital, and Abdullah bin Omran Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology —that hold the same recognition. This accomplishment aligns with EHS’s strategic goal to adopt advanced programmes and training, build a sustainable and integrated healthcare system, and enhance the UAE’s standing on the global medical excellence map.