Dubai: Senior health officials on Wednesday called on schools to stop discriminating against and mistreating diabetic children.
"Some schools deny admission to a diabetic child and many teachers are unaware of the sensitive needs of these children," said Dr Khowla Belhoul, founder of SweetKidz, a support group for young diabetes patients.
The doctor spoke to Gulf News on the sidelines of a fun event for diabetic children at Safa Park yesterday where a Bill of Rights for these special children was also launched.
The Bill was announced by the Princess Haya Initiative and endorsed by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). "This is one of many initiatives undertaken to ensure that children with diabetes get all support to integrate with other children at school," said Qadi Al Murooshid, director general of DHA.
The Bill grants nine basic privileges to a child with diabetes and has been derived from the International School Bill of Rights. It ensures children with diabetes can participate in school activities and that they are permitted the time needed to attend to medical needs.
Dr Abdul Razzaq Al Madani, head of the Emirates Diabetes Society, said steps should be taken so that the Ministry of Education makes it binding on schools to admit children with diabetes.
He said there is a huge lack of awareness among educators about diabetes and how to deal with a child suffering from hypoglycemia (sharp drop in glucose level in body). "Every child has a right to education," he said.
Dr Al Madani said many teachers stopped diabetic children from playing believing they would faint.
Sweetkidz notes that exercise plays an important part in the treatment of the disease. Type-1 diabetic children are punished for experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia because it is confused with misbehaving.
Dr Khowla said many schools are uncomfortable about young patients tending to their medical needs like testing blood sugar levels or taking insulin.
The event at Safa Park brought together 250 children from various schools who took part in fun activities modelled on a mini Olympic games.
