A health volunteer stands inside a sterilisation chamber installed to disinfect residents entering and leaving the Naif area in Dubai on Wednesday. Agence France-Presse

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

UAE Government held on Wednesday a news briefing where Dr. Farida Al Hosani, UAE Health Sector’s spokesperson, and Ammar Almaeeni, spokesperson for the  National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing, gave an update on measures taken for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention.

Al Hosani: We noticed that cases infected with COVID-19 tend to recover faster when they lead a healthy lifestyle; regularly exercise, eating well balanced diet and maintain healthy weight.

Al Hosani: Our healthy habits improve our immunity system and make us less prone to infections and also help us recover quickly if we fall sick.

Al Hosani advised families to regularly monitor body temperature and if fever is registered, they should seek medical help or communicate with any of the drive-through testing centers around the UAE.

Al Hosani urged the public to wear face mask or cover nose and mouth with a cloth if they have to go out and to adhere to health measures taken by UAE.

Almaeeni: UAE Government National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing launched a national campaign to provide psychological and mental support to nationals and residents to help them cope with the circumstances of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Almaeeni: The programme comes in response to the directives of UAE’s leadership to work at a national level to promote reassurance, raise awareness and ensure community commitment to government’s measures for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention.

Almaeeni: With the participation of more than 50 experts in the fields of psychology, mental and social health, the campaign uses social media channels to reach out to different segments of UAE society.

Almaeeni: The campaign consists of three components, “Let’s Support”, “Let’s Reassure, Together” and “Let’s Talk, Together”. Each component focuses on providing tips on certain aspects that help people cope with the special circumstances of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Almaeeni: The campaign’s live sessions are run daily at 20:30, and its awareness-raising videos are periodically published via @HappyUAE We encourage the public to participate in the national campaign and support public health.

Almaeeni: We also participated in private virtual sessions with individuals infected with Coronavirus (COVID-19) in quarantine, to provide psychological support and help them cope with the situation.

Separately, The United Nation has commended the UAE’s humanitarian efforts to provide medical and protective supplies to African countries amidst the global fight against COVID-19, WAM reported.

“I would like to thank the African Union, the governments of UAE and Ethiopia, the Jack Ma Foundation and all our partners for their solidarity with African countries at this critical moment in history,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, said in Geneva, in conjunction with the announcement of the launch of the first UN air solidarity flight to transport medical supplies to African countries.

“Thanks to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its generous support of this operation. WHO’s regional logistics hub in Dubai has played a key role in making sure these supplies are prepared and shipped to where they are most needed. This is by far the largest single shipment of supplies since the start of the pandemic, and will ensure that people living in countries with some of the weakest heaths systems are able to get test and treated, while ensuring that health workers on the frontlines are properly protected,” said Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

“Commercial flights are grounded and medical cargo is stuck. We can stop this virus in its tracks, but we’ve got to work together. WFP is committed to getting vital medical supplies to front lines and shielding medical workers as they save lives,” said David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme. “Our air bridges need to be fully funded to do this, and we stand ready to transport frontline health and humanitarian workers as well as medical cargo,” he added.