SEHA CLINICS empowers 300 school nurses to improve healthcare standards in Abu Dhabi

UAE—SEHA CLINICS, a subsidiary of PureHealth and one of the UAE’s largest primary and specialty healthcare providers, has successfully completed an eight-day training programme aimed at upskilling more than 300 public school nurses across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra.

The initiative, designed to prepare for the 2025–2026 academic year, focused on strengthening school health standards by providing nurses with updated medical knowledge, advanced clinical skills, and hands-on experience relevant to the school environment.

This comprehensive programme was delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and accredited by the Department of Health—Abu Dhabi.

It offered more than 37 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) to participants and adopted a flexible blended learning model, combining both in-person sessions and remote classes to ensure maximum accessibility and engagement.

Advancing Student Wellbeing Through Continuous Training

Dr. Khadija Al Marashda, Chief Executive Officer of SEHA CLINICS, emphasized the organization’s ongoing commitment to promoting the health and well-being of Abu Dhabi’s youth.

She explained that SEHA CLINICS, together with PureHealth, views the younger population as one of the community’s most valuable yet vulnerable groups, requiring consistent and specialized care.

According to Dr. Al Marashda, SEHA CLINICS conducts annual assessments to monitor evolving student health patterns and uses the findings to design training programs that address emerging physical, mental, and emotional health priorities.

She highlighted that these initiatives represent a forward-looking investment in the well-being and potential of the nation’s future leaders.

As part of this year’s training, all nursing supervisors participated under a “train-the-trainer” model, enabling them to cascade their knowledge to peers and ensure sustained learning throughout the education system.

Comprehensive curriculum on critical health challenges

The programme’s curriculum covered a wide range of essential healthcare topics.

A full day was devoted to mental health and safety, addressing issues such as eating disorders, ADHD, bullying, addiction prevention, depression, and the early identification of speech, language, and hearing challenges in students.

Two additional days focused on managing chronic illnesses, including diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, hypertension, and kidney disease.

Nurses also received specialized training on caring for children with disabilities, with sessions devoted to Down’s syndrome, autism, intellectual disabilities, and cerebral palsy.

Practical training to strengthen clinical competence

Beyond theoretical instruction, the programme integrated extensive hands-on workshops to reinforce clinical skills crucial in school settings.

Nurses practiced vital procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), oxygen therapy, infection control, and the safe administration of medications and vaccines.

Each session was delivered in small, interactive groups under the guidance of experts from the Abu Dhabi School Health Services Department to ensure individualized attention and practical mastery.

Collaboration with leading experts and Institutions

The initiative drew support from leading healthcare and academic professionals across the UAE.

Contributors included specialists from SEHA CLINICS, SEHA, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), and the Specialised Rehabilitation Hospital under Capital Health.

Academic trainers also represented several of the UAE’s foremost educational institutions, including the United Arab Emirates University, the University of Sharjah, New York University Abu Dhabi, and Fatima College of Health Sciences.

Through this large-scale initiative, SEHA CLINICS continues to strengthen health service delivery in public schools, ensuring that every child in Abu Dhabi learns in an environment that promotes both safety and well-being.