Doha, 5 February, 2015

In an effort to raise awareness about the prevalence of pain assessment and pain management in children, Kulluna for Health and Safety - an initiative of Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Hamad International Training Center - in collaboration with Canada-based Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), has launched the Pediatric Pain Awareness Week.

Kulluna, sponsored by ConocoPhillips, means 'all of us'. It is a five year health and safety awareness campaign co-sponsored by ConocoPhillips with the aim to raise levels of public awareness about general health issues, personal safety and lifesaving practices.

Following the Qatar International Pain Conference, this event aims to educate staff, children and families about the importance of recognizing and treating pain in infants and children. With the mission to educate people regarding important issues impacting health and safety, Kulluna has created a multi-faceted educational event that will take place throughout the week highlighting aspects of pain in children.

Dr. Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen, Chairman of Kulluna said: "Child safety is one of the most important areas of healthcare in Qatar. It is crucial that children are always in a safe environment, but if need be, we should be able to recognize and minimize pain within both home and outside settings. Through the launch of the Pediatric Pain Awareness Week, we are attempting to engage the community to come together to learn about how they can create a safe environment for their families."

ConocoPhillips Qatar President, Gary Sykes stated: "As founding sponsor of Kulluna, we take great pleasure to launch yet another important awareness campaign to the community. We at ConocoPhillips value health and safety as an essential  pillar of our organizational culture, and supporting the Pain Management campaign for children is a fantastic way to raise awareness and give back to the community we operate in. We wish through this campaign to reach out to parents and ease the pain of every child in Qatar."

Fun booths will be opened for children and families at the City Center Mall and Landmark Mall today from 4 pm to 8 pm, tomorrow from 1 pm to 8 pm, and Saturday from 12 pm to 8 pm.  Children and families will have a chance to play and learning during activities as well as meet with nurses, doctors and child life specialists to talk about child-friendly techniques for reducing painful experiences, both in the healthcare setting and at home.

Dr. Michael Levis, Chairman of the pediatric pain working group said: "Part of keeping children safe is reassuring them that if they have pain, they will not needlessly suffer, because we as caregivers have the experience, the tools, and the responsibility to treat pain in children and keep them safe from further harm."

Ms. Mariam Al Mutawa, Director of Nursing for HMC/SickKids Partnership project said: "Children, no matter what age, feel pain and they should be made aware about the importance of communicating any pain to their caregivers. It doesn't matter how strong a child is, untreated pain can decrease the quality of life and harm health and it is our responsibility to reduce any such stress on their health."

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About HMC
HMC has been the principal public healthcare provider in the state of Qatar for over three decades and is dedicated to delivering the safest, most effective and compassionate care to all patients.

HMC manages eight hospitals, incorporating five specialist hospitals and three community hospitals.  HMC also manages the National Ambulance Service as well as home and residential care, all accredited by Joint Commission International. While HMC continues to upgrade its facilities and services, it has also embarked on an ambitious expansion program, targeting the areas of need in our community.

HMC is leading the development of the region's first academic health system and is committed to building a legacy of healthcare expertise in Qatar. We collaborate with partners who are key experts in Qatar and beyond, including Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Partners Healthcare, Boston.

We are also the first hospital system in the Middle East to achieve institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education - International (ACGME-I), which demonstrates excellence in the way medical graduates are trained through residency, internship and fellowship programs.

For more information please visit: www.hamad.qa or contact Noimot Olayiwola, Media Project Manager Tel: (00974) 44390945; Mobile: (00974) 55568709; Email: nolayiwola@hamad.qa

© Press Release 2015