Dubai Future Council for Health and Well-being discusses three important factors to combat COVID-19

His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) stressed the importance of partnering with international health authorities and research and academic centers in light of the current coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

Al Qutami made the statement during a virtual meeting he chaired with the Dubai Future Council for Health and Well-being.

Al Qutami said it is important to enhance the health sector’s capabilities by focusing on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. He added that it is also important to focus on monitoring noncommunicable diseases and to understand how they develop, especially when they are new strains.

Al Qutami stressed that the council will be constantly meeting virtually to discuss the local and international updates of COVID-19 and implement ideas discussed.

The meeting’s agenda focused on the causes of the fast spread of the virus globally and the role of scientific research in combating this disease. The meeting also discussed the latest technological developments that help fight the disease such as the convalescent plasma therapy Dubai has begun implementing recently after it was adopted on a national level.

The council also discussed three factors that will help fight the spread of coronavirus which include the technical factor which focuses on how to combat the virus through screenings and proactive diagnostic procedures that relies on smart techniques, programmes and apps.

The second factor, which is the laboratory factor, is concerned with the formation of the virus, its development and understanding the type of its strains, in order to find the optimal ways to limit its spread, and then eliminate it.

The third factor (telemedicine), which the meeting stressed is important in this period as it contributes to reducing the chances of transmission, and reduces pressure on medical personnel’s by reducing unnecessary visits to hospitals and health centers.