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Dubai children can check in with their teddy bear at this hospital

Dubai - The Teddy Bear Hospital merely began as an idea submitted to Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Majlis titled "Create a class in school to treat sick toys."

The Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) has launched the Teddy Bear Hospital, a first of its kind in Dubai and the UAE, which is a programme designed to teach school children hands-on about medical procedures and to decrease any preconceived fears of doctor visits.
The MBRU's Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Medical Simulation Centre is home to the newly launched programme.
Mahra Al Shehi, the six-year-old Emirati girl who was called "an Emirati angel and the queen of children" by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the first session of Teddy Bear Hospital along with three other children aged 6 to 8 years old.
The Teddy Bear Hospital session kicked off with the children changing into their personalised scrubs. Then they were led to the Simulation Centre by the team and a number of MBRU medical students where they checked-in their teddy bears into the hospital.
Upon admission they met the doctors to discuss the bear's medical situation. The teddy bears underwent a CT scan, and were led into the surgery ward to get anesthetics before their operation. The children awaited their teddy bear's at the observation room where they were brought out with an intravenous (IV) drip and bandages.
Upon completion of the medical procedures, the children were ready to go home, they met the doctors to discuss the bear's medical results and handed the children the image from the CT scan along with their medical report. 
The Teddy Bear Hospital merely began as an idea submitted to Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Majlis titled "Create a class in school to treat sick toys."
The idea was then directed to Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) for review. After studying the initial idea, the KHDA directed it to the MBRU in order to study its feasibility. 
The MBRU's simulation team re-engineered the initial idea and Teddy Bear Hospital came to life.
Helen Henderson, lead simulation educator at MBRU said: "Teddy Bear Hospital creates a unique educational opportunity for children across the UAE. It's a great initiative, and one of its kind in the country. The programme introduces children to the basics of healthcare through firsthand experiences where we aim to downplay the fear children experience when they go to hospitals."
Henderson added: "We want to diminish any negative feelings of anxiety the children experience when visiting a doctor. In the future we hope to tie this programme with the school curriculum, and make it a part of the overall education experience in the UAE." 
Nujood Al Khloofi, director of communications and external relations at MBRU, said: "We have been working on this project for quite some time, and by all means it's a great opportunity for children to learn about the medical field in a friendly environment."
"Whether the students are going to the nurse at school, or visiting a doctor, the children will have to be exposed to the medical field in some way, and that is where Teddy Bear Hospital comes in. We're fortunate to have a state-of-the-art simulation centre, a fully-equipped facility which mimics the exact setting of a hospital, allowing us to provide such a distinct experience for the children."
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com