Sharjah health workers trained to detect child abuse

In a proactive initiative to enhance child protection, healthcare workers in Sharjah are undergoing specialized training to better support child victims of violence and abuse. Kanaf, a multi-agency child protection center established last month, is conducting sessions aimed at equipping doctors, nurses, and other staff members with essential skills to facilitate open communication with young patients about their experiences.

The comprehensive training program consists of three stages, with the first stage focusing on teaching healthcare workers how to ask sensitive yet crucial questions that encourage children to share their ordeals. Using Socratic questions, a method employed by therapists and counselors, participants are trained to ask open-ended queries designed to elicit natural responses, steering away from rehearsed answers. Dr. Bana Bouzaboon, mental health director at Kanaf, led the presentation in collaboration with Sharjah’s Child Safety Department.

The Socratic questioning technique is considered a vital tool in uncovering cases of child abuse, as it encourages children to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in their own words. This approach aims to avoid rehearsed responses that individuals involved in the incident may craft to evade legal scrutiny.

During a simulated interaction exercise involving a mother, child, and a doctor, participants gained hands-on experience in applying these questioning techniques in sensitive situations involving child victims of abuse. The workshop covered counseling, guidance, and recognition of signs of child abuse, emphasizing the importance of attentive listening, understanding conveyed emotions, and recognizing non-verbal cues.

Fifty healthcare professionals from Al Qasimi Women’s and Children’s Hospital participated in the opening workshop, which also explored the stages of child protection, including listening to the child, empathizing without judgment, and collaboratively devising plans for self-protection.

Dr. Bouzaboon highlighted the importance of patience, calmness, and interactive engagement, advising against pressuring or rushing the child during interactions. The upcoming workshop in January will focus on training doctors on writing initial forensic reports for child abuse cases presented to courts and prosecution departments.

Kanaf, as a dedicated child protection center, deals with cases involving children and teenagers up to the age of 18. The center’s collaborative team, including members from the police, prosecution, social services, education regulator, healthcare, and child safety departments, works closely to ensure the welfare of children involved in reported cases.

The initiative aligns with the commitment to human development and childhood care, contributing to the overall advancement of Sharjah and its society. The increased focus on training and collaboration is crucial, especially considering the reported surge in child abuse cases in Sharjah in 2022, as highlighted by the Sharjah Child and Family Protection Centre. The center reported handling 3,487 reports from families, schools, and children, reflecting a notable increase from 2,168 reports in 2021.