Being a doctor is a challenging job. They have to wear many hats during a consultation. Just like a detective, they need to ask the right questions to find all the clues then they need to be problem solvers who can piece everything together to arrive at the correct diagnosis.
Pediatricians have an even harder time because their patients are often unable to speak for themselves and explain what is wrong and at the same time they have to deal with parents who might be stressed and worried about their child. This is exactly why you need a pediatrician like Dr. Ghanim Al-Ghanim on your side.
For as long as he can remember Al-Ghanim knew he wanted to be a physician. He was always quick to answer “Doctor”, when he was asked as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up. Looking back at pictures of his younger self, he was often wearing a white lab coat already pretending to be a doc. He headed off to Ireland at 17 to study medicine and earn his Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. It wasn’t until his fourth year of medical school when he knew he wanted to become a pediatrician.
He went on to complete his fellowship in neonatal perinatal medicine from McMaster University in Canada. He is also a member of the Canadian board in General Pediatrics-McMaster Children’s hospital, the Royal College of physicians in Canada and the Canadian Pediatric society.
Today he works at Taiba Hospital and specializes in pediatric medicine as well as being a Neonatologist. The latter is a specialty that focuses on newborn intensive care, possibly prematurely born babies or newborns with complications.
Dr. Al-Ghanim understands that his job is not just to treat an illness. His patients are more than just cases or medical curiosities, instead he believes it is very important to create rapport and build connections with the parents as well as the child. He spends the first few minutes of any visit making sure the entire family is at ease and relaxed so he can then proceed onto diagnosis and treatment.
He also mentioned that one of the most common conditions in children in Kuwait is asthma. The environment and weather seem to play a large role in the number of cases. It is a manageable disease but needs patient compliance and parental guidance. This is why the relationship between the medical establishment and families needs to be built on trust, education and support, everyone works together for a common goal.
Taiba Hospital makes sure that the doctors have access to all the resources they need from skilled and highly trained support staff to the ability to print out educational material that can help patients better manage their symptoms and complete treatment.
One of the supporting departments to pediatrics is the Breastfeeding Clinic. Lactation specialists are available to help new moms learn how to properly nurse their infants and are on-call to provide guidance and aid whenever it is needed. Taiba Hospital is the only facility in Kuwait that has earned the Baby-Friendly Accreditation. There’s even a nursing room in the pediatrics department so moms can easily breastfeed in private if they need to while waiting to see a doctor. It is this kind of thoughtful planning that makes it easier on the entire family to stay healthy.
It is no secret that many parents are now reluctant to take their child to see a physician because of COVID-19. But, Dr. Al-Ghanim reassured us that there’s nothing to be afraid of. The hospital is following all the Health Ministry’s guidelines regarding safety.
Patients need only practice social distancing, wash their hands and wear their masks. It is actually riskier to ignore symptoms or wait too long before seeing a doctor, especially for children.
He also explained that there are clear warning signs and red flags that should never be ignored. A fever, severe vomiting or diarrhea are examples. And if a baby is crying inconsolably for more than an hour, it is best to see the doc. There are specialists on-call around the clock at Taiba, so there’s always someone who can help you out.
If we have learned anything from our experience of 2020, is that health is our most precious possession. Healthy children have a better chance of growing up to become healthy adults, so don’t take chances with the little ones’ health.
Taiba Hospital is located in Sabah Al Salem, off of route 30 on Road 3. Call them 24 hours at 180 80 88. For updates and information, visit the website taibahospital.com, and follow them on Instagram @taibahospital.
