Qatar participates in World Health Assembly meeting

QNA – Doha:

Qatar participated in the works of the 73rd World Health Assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari represented Qatar in the assembly’s meeting, which was held via video conferencing. 

The minister presented a report on the latest developments on the situation of the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) in Qatar.

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, opened the World Health Assembly meeting, where global efforts to tackle Covid-19 were discussed.

In her speech, HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari reviewed Qatar’s efforts to confront the pandemic of Covid-19 through a work-based approach between all components of government and society.

She also highlighted the actions taken in all sectors to protect members of society from the virus.

At the meeting the minister clarified the reasons for Qatar recording large numbers of cases infected with the virus in the country, saying this is due largely to the extensive tests and monitoring policy pursued by the State, which allowed the discovery of a large number of positive cases.

In contrast, Qatar witnessed very few deaths among Covid-19 patients, and 94% of cases in Qatar show mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, and 5% require hospitalisation and only 1% enter intensive care units.

Factors contributing to the low death rate include the high proportion of young population in Qatar, the proactive screening and test programme, and an effective and efficient healthcare system that diagnoses and treats patients early to reduce complications associated with the disease.

Dr al-Kuwari said: “Despite our focus on Covid-19, patients suffering from other cases were not ignored, as the healthcare sector quickly transformed the way of providing healthcare services. There is a set of virtual services that are provided to patients from their homes in a manner that guarantees their comfort and safety”.

The minister also talked about the assistance provided by Qatar to many countries amid this pandemic, out of its international humanitarian role, upon the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Dr al-Kuwari said that the Amir directed all concerned authorities and institutions in Qatar to provide all possible global support to the people and countries affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

She added that Qatar Airways had moved about a million people from several countries to their home countries, in addition to returning thousands of passengers who were stranded due to the suspension of flights, as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus, through charter flights.

The minister also noted that Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) had provided medical assistance to more than 20 countries.