Emirates Health Services launches youth empowerment strategy

DUBAI, 7th September, 2022 (WAM) — The Emirates Health Services (EHS) Youth Council has launched a comprehensive strategy to empower young people, hone their talents, and provide them with the necessary capabilities and skills to be active in the healthcare sector by having a voice and an influential presence.

The strategy aims to provide a unique job experience for youth at EHS within a supportive work environment that helps them shape roles within EHS and progress their career paths, while enhancing it as a leading entity in the health care sector in the country. The strategy, furthermore, aims to involve youth in finding solutions to challenges based on creative and innovative thinking.

Dr. Yousif Al Serkal, EHS Director General, said, “The launch of the youth strategy is in line with EHS’ strategies and its mission and vision which aims at investing in youth and enhancing the work environment to develop their capabilities. EHS believes that supporting and enabling youth to contribute effectively to realise their achievements, in line with the wise directives of the UAE leadership, as a main pillar of the development processes for the nation in the next fifty years.”

Mahaba Al Saleh, Chairperson of the EHS Youth Council, said that the institution’s goals and strategies are consistent with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to empower young people across all sectors, and to highlight the UAE model and approach to empowering youth and enabling them to spearhead development efforts across federal government institutions.

The strategy developed by the Youth Council is based on the framework of the Federal Youth Authority’s “Youth Empowerment Manual” to achieve its objectives. Six principles are followed: The first principle, Voice of Youth, encourages communication, participation, the sharing of ideas and opinions as well as effective participation in the decision-making process at EHS. The second principle, Appreciation, seeks to recognise efforts as well as providing incentives to increase productivity. The third principle, Purpose, aims to engrain loyalty and belonging for youth at EHS and increasing job satisfaction.

The fourth principle, Guidance, aims to develop skills and capabilities through mentorship, supervision, and support at a professional and personal level. Development is the fifth principle, which looks to improve and enhance capabilities and performance through the acquisition of new skills and improving their job performance. Opportunities, the sixth principle, looks at creating equal opportunities, for career advancement.

The Youth Council launched a number of initiatives, including the Sawtak Wasel initiative, which provides youth with active participation at the senior leadership level, enhancing leadership capabilities and encouraging them to share ideas to solve challenges as well as the ability to directly engage with the leadership.

EHS also launched the Nomu initiative to provide workshops and specialised training courses for youth and to create more youth-centric opportunities that allows participation in decision-making.

Furthermore, the Oun initiative is developing a team of young volunteers to provide aid and participate in initiatives, events, and activities organised by EHS.