The Ministry of Health (MoH) has advised fasting parents not to neglect their non-fasting children during the holy month. This advice comes as part of the Ministry of Health’s “Hello Healthy Ramadan” program.
“The Ministry of Health would like to advise parents to remember their children, who are not fasting during the holy month. This is because parents tend to stay awake throughout the night and sleep during the day after the suhoor meal. This has resulted in some parents neglecting their younger children, who wake up during normal morning hours, leaving them unattended,” Khalid Merghalani, supervisor general of media relations and health awareness, told Arab News.
He added that it is not advisable for young children to be forced to fast because not ingesting regular meals could damage their health.
“Children are in need of vitamins and nutrients to allow them to grow properly and since it is not mandatory for them to fast until they are older, parents should ensure they eat healthy meals, even during Ramadan,” Merghalani said.
Parents are being advised to allow young children to sleep in the morning during Ramadan and then to have their breakfast around noon, followed by a light lunch mid-afternoon.
“I usually feed my 2-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter a regular-sized breakfast and then pack them a sandwich and snack as a light lunch to eat anytime they feel hungry before all of us sit down to break our fast at sunset,” Sultana told Arab News.
MoH: Do not neglect non-fasting children
