NIZWA: The General Directorate of Social Development in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, located at Nizwa Hospital, recently hosted an enlightening dialogue session as part of its marital programme initiative.
The session was held under the auspices of Shaikh Saleh bin Dhiyab al Rubaie, Wali of Nizwa. The session united experts from the Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Health, Sultan Qaboos University, and educational counsellors.
The primary objective of this session was to educate prospective couples and newlyweds on the crucial aspects of married life and the foundation of a strong family.
By enhancing community awareness of the marital counselling programme and fostering partnerships with various institutions, the aim was to encourage more individuals to enrol in marital counselling courses.
This initiative addressed challenges such as the lack of clarity about the programme and the reluctance of prospective couples to attend such courses.
Fadel bin Abdullah al Shezawi, Director-General of Social Development in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, emphasised in his opening speech that the well-being of a family hinges on the strength of its foundation—the relationship between spouses. He stressed that empowering couples with knowledge and skills is essential for preserving family unity and preventing disputes.
The session featured four enlightening working papers:
'Cohesion' by Dr Khalfan bin Salim al Busaidy, Head of the Family Development Department at the Department of Social Development in Barka.
'Our Children are Honesty' by Dr Salam bin Salim al Kindi, Professor and Senior Consultant in Hematology at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.
'Developing Feelings' by Dr Idris bin Issa al Faliti, Director of the Humanisation Center for Educational Consultations.
'Affection and Mercy' by Shaikh Salim bin Ali al Namani, a religious guidance and counselling expert at Sultan Qaboos University.
To ensure the programme's success, the Ministry has equipped its staff with the necessary knowledge and skills.
The Directorate has also established a dedicated marital counselling team at the governorate level. This team offers a comprehensive 3-day training programme covering critical topics, such as building happy families, effective communication, family planning, and managing marital challenges.
Over 140 awareness programmes have been conducted, benefiting nearly 6,500 participants, and four specialised training programmes have prepared approximately 60 individuals from Al Dakhiliyah who are on the cusp of marriage.
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