1 April 2019 saw the launch of the new ‘ZuidZorg Youth Health Care’ (Jeugdgezondheidszorg) English Facebook page. ZuidZorg Youth Health Care is an organisation with a growing number of international parents with their children as clients. To cater for the information needs, several adjustments have been made. Soon an English website will go online but they made a start with creating a Facebook page through which this group can be informed and kept updated.
In all 26 consultation bureaus across the Eindhoven districts an increase in non-Dutch clients is identified; Thieu Smeets, Director ZuidZorg Youth Health Care explains: “Our healthcare professionals see more and more people who have an international background, and we like to provide the basic information to them in an understandable language. ZuidZorg Youth Health Care is taking steps to make sure they have access to important info.”
At the Facebook page regular updates will be posted by the ZuidZorg Youth Health Care professionals who are in touch with the multicultural parents. They will make use of their experience when choosing subjects and themes to address.
Anita Sanders from the international social media team and registered nurse youth health care says: “We see that international parents have many questions, which can be expected miles from home, away from family and friends, with a young child (or multiple) and unfamiliar with the Dutch customs. Certain things, such as the vaccination scheme, is well known to the Dutch, but it needs additional explanation for the newcomers. Moreover, for most parents from abroad a consultation bureau is something totally new, so that we always have to explain what we do exactly. After they find out what a consultation bureau offers, we see that international parents highly appreciate the opportunity to share their questions and uncertainties about (raising) their child at the consultation bureau.”
Youth Healthcare (Jeugdgezondheidszorg) is a national service intended for all children and their parents and it is paid for by the government. In Eindhoven and surroundings, ZuidZorg provides youth health care to all children aged 0-4 years.
Once you arrive in The Netherlands with a child between zero and four years , you will be contacted by a ZuidZorg Youth Health Care professional and (s)he will enroll your child in the monitoring system. Overall health, growth and development, nutrition, speech and wellbeing are examples of what will be observed. Parents can talk to the nurses about their concerns and advice is given. At the youth health care centre, your child will also receive his/her vaccinations to protect against common diseases.
For Eindhoven News: Irene Martens
