SEHA expands Muhakat initiative to bolster Emiratization

SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company has announced the expansion of the highly successful Muhakat program. Muhakat is a simulation program that provides talented Emiratis a real-life experience of different job functions within the healthcare sector. Muhakat builds on the success of SEHA’s Emiratization program. The second cycle of Muhakat starts on 18^th of November and will run until the 27^th of November 2012, and will reach out to high school students from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Gharbiyah schools as well as foundation college students from colleges. The Muhakat program aims to inspire Emirati youth and encourage them to take up healthcare as a career option through role shadowing and observation. 

The Muhakat initiative, first launched on Feb 12th 2012, has seen excellent response and is on track to attract and train more than 200 UAE nationals this year from several high schools and universities. In view of its success, SEHA is now looking to get more education providers and healthcare providers to partner with the scheme.

The Muhakat program sees students from public & private schools/universities shadowing and observing SEHA healthcare professionals discharging their duties. Institutions participating in the 1st Muhakat session were provided the simulation at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Corniche Hospital and Al Mafraq Hospital; the initiative is to expand to encompass other healthcare providers within the SEHA network.

Explaining the idea behind Muhakat, Mr. Mohamed Hareb Al Qemzi, Group HR Director at SEHA said, "Muhakat is SEHA's role shadow or simulation program. Role shadowing refers to a process where a person 'shadows' or observes someone in their work role for a defined period of time. It is the most effective way of gaining a skill or knowledge on a topic. For example, an interested student will observe a medical professional in a real work scenario to understand in detail the skills and requirements to excel in this job."

Each day of the Muhakat program is carefully planned as participating groups of students are assigned to selected experts whom they will observe in the discharge of daily duties.

"The Muhakat simulation program will be an inspiration to talented Emirati students, helping to better understand the contribution of healthcare professionals in making our lives better. It will introduce the profession of healthcare to young minds wanting to make a positive difference to the nation's future, and will hopefully be their first step towards a rewarding career in healthcare," added Al Qemzi, "We are currently working to improve the program's capacity so that it can foster a bigger number of potential healthcare professionals in coming years, and facilitate sustainable succession planning and excellence in healthcare for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We thank Abu Dhabi Education Council for supporting SEHA’s Muhakat program.”

Muhakat is part of SEHA's ongoing Emiratization program under the message "Let's Keep Abu Dhabi Smiling". The inspirational message has been successful in attracting Emirati talent to a career in healthcare across the SEHA Health System in Abu Dhabi.

The Muhakat program will be expanded in a phased manner in subsequent years by including a larger intake of UAE national students from a wider spectrum of universities and academic institutions.