News DeskDubai: In line with the UAE’s ongoing drive to build healthy, active communities, St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, is underscoring the pivotal partnership between pediatricians and families. By guiding children’s nutrition, development, and emotional wellbeing, these specialists help lay the groundwork for a vibrant next generation across the Emirates.
Drawing on nationwide school-screening figures from the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention, the World Obesity Federation’s March 2024 Obesity in Numbers brief estimates that nearly two in five school-age children (38.4 %) across the population already live with overweight or obesity. Obesity alone affects about one in five boys (21.1 %) and one in eight girls (12.3 %).
Dr. Ahmed Hussein, an SGU graduate from the Doctor of Medicine degree program in 2022, advises that regular pediatric checkups are the single most important preventive measure. “Each age group has its own anticipatory guidance for a healthy life and specific screening tools for diseases,” he said. “These routine visits allow pediatricians to provide tailored advice on nutrition, development, and emotional wellbeing.”
“Pediatrics is a deeply rewarding field because it’s not just about treating young patients, it’s about supporting entire families through some of their most vulnerable moments,” said Dr. Hussein. “You become a trusted guide, helping parents navigate uncertainty and empowering them to nurture their child’s health beyond the clinic. It’s a role that requires empathy, resilience, and a genuine passion for making a long-term impact.”
Reflecting on his journey into pediatrics, Dr. Hussein describes it as a field full of daily joy and renewal. “Each patient encounter is like meeting a new friend for playtime,” he shares. “We laugh, play, and joke during our time together while tackling the main reason for their visit. It’s a constant regeneration of energy during the day.”
Addressing the post-pandemic surge in screen addiction, anxiety, and delayed social development in children, Dr. Hussein urges families to create emotionally connected environments. “Routines that prioritize outdoor play, face-to-face interaction, and emotional openness,” he notes, are key to cultivating resilience in children navigating today’s fast-evolving world.
For more information on the programs and tracks available through SGU School of Medicine, visit SGU’s website.
