06/04/2026
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06/04/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, April 6: The Ministry of Health, represented by the Physical Therapy Department at the Maternity Hospital, affirmed the vital role of occupational therapists in supporting premature infants and empowering their families, thus contributing to a healthier start to life.
The department explained that occupational therapy is the foundation of early care for premature infants, through an integrated medical team, which focuses on the neurological and developmental growth from the earliest days. It revealed that occupational therapy interventions include enhancing sensory experiences, such as touch, sound and light, tailored to the child’s age and needs, along with supporting proper posture and movement patterns to improve responsiveness to the environment.
It commended the role of occupational therapists in enhancing the child’s self-regulation like sleep patterns and calmness, which is essential for stabilizing health and normal development. It explained that developmental care is one of the most important modern approaches in dealing with premature infants, aiming to reduce stress and provide an environment similar to the womb, which supports healthy and balanced brain development and contributes to improved long-term outcomes.
It emphasized the importance of integrated work among different disciplines, along with parent education and the application of developmental care methods, considering their impact on improving long-term developmental outcomes for premature infants.
It added that occupational therapy extends beyond the child, as it includes supporting the family by guiding the parents on proper ways to gently hold and handle the baby as part of their daily routine, confirming that parents are vital in the treatment journey.
By Marwa Al-Bahrawi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
