SCH Chairman inaugurates specialised clinic for newborn hearing screening at SMC

Lieutenant General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), inaugurated a specialised clinic for newborn hearing screening at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).

Dr. Mariam Athbi Al Jalahma, CEO of Government Hospitals, attended the event.

The launch of the clinic underscores Bahrain’s commitment to strengthening child healthcare and ensuring that newborns benefit from early detection services in line with international best practices. The initiative is part of broader efforts to safeguard children’s healthy development from the very earliest stages of life.

Dr. Mariam Khalil Sahwan, Chairperson of the ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, highlighted that the clinic will enable the early diagnosis of hearing impairments through state-of-the-art technology. She emphasised that timely intervention reduces the risk of delays in speech, language and auditory development.

She said that the service represents an important milestone in advancing paediatric care in Bahrain, raising the quality of services provided and ensuring access to appropriate treatment. It also supports the Kingdom’s drive to achieve its health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

The clinic’s inauguration is part of ongoing efforts by Government Hospitals to expand preventive screening and paediatric services, in line with international healthcare standards, thereby contributing to the overall improvement of healthcare and quality of life in the Kingdom.