Dubai to have 'super-specialty' children's hospital

The Dubai Health Authority on Tuesday signed a contract for the construction of a super-speciality hospital for children, the first of its kind in the whole region. Al Jalila Hospital is named after the daughter of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The 200-bed hospital will cost Dh673 million to build and will have several centres of excellence dedicated to cancer care, cardiology, neurology and mental health. The contract for the construction of the hospital was signed with Al Futaim Carillion. It will be built on a sprawling 100,000 square metres within the grounds of Al Wasl Hospital. The children-friendly hospital will "redifine paediatric care in the UAE and the wider region," said Qadhi Al Murooshid, director general of DHA, making the announcement. "The Hospital will be an advanced medical facility that will attract "medical tourism" to the emirate and help improve the level and quality if healthcare services for chidren," he said. It is expected to be completed in 26 months. He quoted World Health Organisation (WHO) studies and said that  many health complications in children can be avoided if conditions such as diabetes, obesity and arthritis are diagnosed at an early age. "These reports reveal that children suffering from health complications during an early age tend to suffer from the same conditions throughout thier adult life," he said. The design of the Hospital has already won international honours, including the Future Projects--Health Award in barcelona. The design, architecture and decor aim to stimulate the participation and imagination of children through visual aids, interactive touch-surfaces and integrating arts, music and nature as part of the overall healthcare strategy, said a senior DHA official.