UAE receives international praise for efforts amid COVID-19 pandemic

The visit was enriched with knowledge transfer and various learnings involved in fighting the Covid-19 global pandemic over the last 20 months. Both parties exchanged scientific opportunities and probed practical methods in epidemiology, research, technology, and innovation. They also examined future partnerships in the areas of preventive medicine, telemedicine, biotechnology, genomics, life science, and medical technologies. 

H.E. Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH, said: “The UAE’s achievements are guided by the wise direction of our government and their continuous support to ensure the wellbeing of the UAE. The last 20 months were challenging yet rewarding. It gave us many lessons, but most of all with the confidence of carrying the journey that our leadership has set up to make Abu Dhabi one of the best healthcare systems globally. We are pleased to welcome H.E. Roberto Speranza, who we have shared their experience in response to the pandemic and conversed about ways of cooperation between the UAE and Italy in the healthcare sector. We shared many of common challenges that we faced and agreed to take the collaboration forward to serve our respected nations and the wider world”

H.E. Al Hamed added: “The international accolades presented to the emirate of Abu Dhabi confirms the positive outcome of an exceptional COVID-19 response model. We are proud of the exerted efforts and where we reached today. We look forward to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position on the global healthcare map.” 

Abu Dhabi was ranked as the leading city in response to Covdi19 globally, among other 50 cities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the London-based analytics consortium, Deep Knowledge Group (DKG). Since the outbreak, the Emirates has strengthened its measures, procedures, and initiatives with the aim to maintain the health and safety of its citizens, residents and visitors. Adding to that, the Emirate’s private and public sectors have joint efforts to aid in the development of the healthcare sector and to stabilize Abu Dhabi’s economy throughout the pandemic.

DKG ranks cities based on the government’s efficiency in mitigating crisis and managing digital services. They also stressed the city’s economic flexibility, the effectiveness of the quarantine system, its scope and duration alongside vaccination rates, vaccine availability and the percentage of recipients.

Additionally, the UAE launched the Covid-19 National Vaccination Campaign, an initiative that vaccinated more than 90% of the population, for free. Likewise, the UAE hosted the largest and one of first vaccine clinical trials globally, generating results that supported the approval of the most used vaccine world-wide today.  

Furthermore, and with appreciation that the world is facing the pandemic challenge together and as one unit, UAE become one of the leading nations in terms of donation and has launched the "HOPE Consortium" to offer the most effective vaccine supply chains solution to the world. The consortium provided effective solution to tackle one the biggest airlift in our lifetime. It delivered over 100 million vaccine doses to over 65 countries since inception 11 months ago.