Abu Dhabi, UAE – PureHealth, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East, through its subsidiary SEHA’s renowned Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), is making significant strides in the diagnosis and treatment of rare aerodigestive disorders in children.

Most recently, the exceptional multidisciplinary team at SKMC successfully treated a four-year-old child through 33 consecutive and successful medical procedures. Young Hamda born prematurely at 32 weeks faced multiple complications stemming from her early birth. Diagnosed with bilateral vocal cord paralysis and subglottic stenosis, a narrowing of the airway below the vocal cords and above the windpipe, she required a tracheostomy, a hole in the neck created surgically to provide an alternative airway for breathing.

In addition to these complications, Hamda also had difficulty feeding by mouth due to a swallowing dysfunction. This required the insertion of a gastrostomy (feeding) tube, that goes directly into the stomach.

Hamda’s care was managed by a team of specialists from the SKMC Aerodigestive Program, the only one of its kind in Abu Dhabi that is specifically dedicated to children. This specialized clinic has provided comprehensive care for over 500 children with complex aerodigestive disorders since its inception in 2019. The clinic includes an ENT, Paediatric Pulmonology, Paediatric Gastroenterology, Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology, Respiratory Therapy, General Paediatrics, and nursing team.

Dr Asma Al Marzouqi, Consultant Paediatrician at SKMC, said: “The multidisciplinary clinic handles all complex cases of airways and digestive conditions offering a collaborative approach, where medical experts from various fields come together to ensure the best possible care outcomes. SKMC’s commitment to handling complex cases underscores their dedication to providing top-tier healthcare and making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families.”

Dr. Sofia Konstantinopoulou, Consultant Paediatrician and the head of the Aerodigestive Program at SKMC, said: “The SKMC Aerodigestive Program is a unique multidisciplinary clinic for patients with acquired and congenital breathing, swallowing, feeding problems and difficulties with growth or development. The aim is to provide cost-effective, family-focused, and patient-centred care to the best of our abilities, aligning with PureHealth’s mission to promote healthcare excellence and accessibility to all.”

Thanks to the exceptional care she received at SKMC, Hamda has made remarkable strides in her journey. She is now breathing normally and is comfortably eating by mouth. Her swallowing difficulties have been resolved, and she is gaining healthy weight, while her intellectual development is flourishing, and is demonstrating superb writing and reading skills even before starting school.

The success story of Hamda's treatment symbolises PureHealth’s vision of ensuring healthier communities and empowering people to live longer, healthier, and fuller lives.

About PureHealth

By advancing the science of longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the UAE to the rest of the world. PureHealth is the UAE’s largest integrated healthcare platform, with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans, consisting of 25+ hospitals, 100+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centers, insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments, and more. With groundbreaking innovations at the forefront of healthcare, the company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind.

PureHealth’s network of healthcare facilities across Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates comprises: 

  • SEHA – Abu Dhabi Health Services Company – One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE
  • Daman – The National Health Insurance Company, the UAE’s leading health insurer
  • The Medical Office – Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. The President of the UAE
  • Rafed – The UAE’s largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organization
  • Pure Lab – Managing and Operating the largest network of laboratories in the region
  • Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center – Specialist healthcare center focused on cell therapy and regenerative medicine
  • One Health – Sales, service support, and engineering network that provides end-to-end medical solutions to a base of over 300 healthcare service providers
  • The Life Corner – Abu Dhabi’s first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment

To learn more, please visit www.purehealth.ae

About SEHA

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC – (SEHA) – is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company owns and operates all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. SEHA is a PureHealth asset, the UAE's largest integrated healthcare platform.

SEHA is committed to the continuous improvement of customer care to recognized international standards, and providing the community with world-class healthcare. SEHA operates 16 hospitals with over 3,900 beds, 74 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centers, and three blood banks. Its facilities accommodate 117,162 inpatients annually and conduct 43,262 surgeries, as well as treat more than five million outpatients.

SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East, with more than 14,000 doctors, nurses, ancillary care, and administrative personnel. Learn more at www.seha.ae