5,000 moms-to-be get first books for kids

Sharjah - The 'My First Book' initiative of the Kalimat Group saw 25,000 books distributed among expecting mothers across the country.

In conjunction with the 'Month of Reading' initiative, the Ministry of Health and Prevention and Kalimat Group have successfully completed their joint initiative 'Kitabi Al Awal' (My First Book), after distributing 25,000 books across the nation to 5,000 mothers-to-be, who are expecting their first baby.
The initiative, which covered more than 60 healthcare centres and clinics in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, was aimed at encouraging expectant mothers to inspire a love of reading in their children from the earliest possible age.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, said: "Kitabi Al Awal highlights Kalimat Group's vision of nurturing new generations and providing them with the tools they need to appreciate culture. This will help to reinforce their position as the builders of the future and the cornerstone of the nation's progress."
She pointed out that the initiative is part of a series of steps and ongoing efforts undertaken by Kalimat Group aligned with the UAE National Strategy for Reading 2016-2026.
"Kitabi Al Awal was able to demonstrate an ideal way to support the capacities of children by instilling a love of reading in them from an early age, through providing mothers with books and encouraging them to be active partners in building successful future generations," Sheikha Bodour said.
Dr Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said that under the directives of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reading has been fostered across the UAE as a noble community practice.
Al Owais highlighted that through such national drives to promote reading, the UAE is determined to enhance its role as an incubator of knowledge, where reading is embraced as an indispensable cultural and recreational practice.
He added that Kitabi Al Awal will have a far-reaching impact on every child's perception of books, reading habits and their ability to access knowledge. The fact that books will be one of the first few elements in their immediate environment; will help these children form a natural bond with them.
Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Centres and Clinics at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, distributed the final batch of books to expectant mothers at Dhadna Healthcare Centre in Fujairah, in the presence of Thuraya Al Sabri, Director of Government Communication at Kalimat Group, and a number of section heads and directors at the ministry, marking the end of the initiative.
On the fringe of the initiative's conclusion, Kalimat Group organised a series of activities and events for mothers, attended by representatives of the Sharjah Baby Friendly Office (SBFO), including a lecture delivered by Emirati writer Maitha Al Khayat about the importance of reading and the family's role in inspiring children to read in the first years of life.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai
• Sharjah