Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

The UAE is committed and shall continue sharing to the world its experiences as it remains open to others’ and learn from these as well, to solve the yet-to-be-globally extinguished SARS-CoV2.

UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHaP)-Health Centres and Clinics/Public Health assistant undersecretary Dr. Hussein AbdelRahman Al Rand reaffirmed the government’s thrust and approach on Tuesday when he met, through a videoconference, a high-level delegation from Mexico led by Ambassador to the UAE Francisca Escobar.

Escobar was with her colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health. They lauded the UAE’s health sector, particularly its sophisticated health facilities. They were hopeful that the bilateral relations between both governments in the healthcare and medical sectors continually improve, capitalising on the UAE’s success stories and innovative undertakings. They were keen to leverage official documents and data on the preventive measures against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). They were grateful for the 10 metric tonnes of COVID-19 medical supplies and testing kits the UAE had donated to the Central American country mid-July 2020 for use by 10,000 medical professionals. Within that timeframe, the UAE had reached out to 72 countries helping in the assistance for one million health workers.

Moreover, Al Rand said: “Since the COVID-19 outbreak, we have launched a slew of health initiatives to counter the spread of the virus and have adopted the best global practices in the health risk management field.”

“This is in addition to enhancing precautionary measures for rapid response and instant control of the virus, as well as protecting community members through the early detection of infected cases and the isolation of close contacts,” he also said.

Al Rand, with MoHaP-Preventive Medicine Department director Dr Nada Hassan Ahmed Al Marzouki and MoHaP-Immunisation Department head Dr Layla Al Jasmi, stressed that all these steps are part of the UAE’s national strategy. The strategy had been benchmarked on the instituted World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines namely medical screening protocols, early detection, expansion of laboratory/diagnostics centres including quarantine facilities, use of appropriate treatment, and active contact tracing.

On the national strategy, Al Rand said: “The UAE (has embarked on) preparedness and epidemic management, and innovated digital health solutions. It has strengthened government investments in manufacturing medicines and vaccines to confront future pandemics.”