Thanks to its successful proactive strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Qatar managed to overcome three waves of the pandemic, through a methodology based on a scientific and cooperative approach among all government agencies, local and international partnerships, and community participation.
Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari affirmed at the Qatar Health Conference 2022 held in February that the health sector is ready for any circumstances due to its expertise, experience, commitment, and solidarity of the healthcare system in the country to achieve the desired goals.
The health system in Qatar works to respond to any pandemic or abnormal health situation in a proactive and preparatory manner in a scientific approach to any exceptional circumstances through a court system in which all parties in the country participate. This includes the preparations that precede the countrys hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where healthcare workers will have a very important role in the tournament.
The Minister of Public Health confirmed on several occasions that healthcare teams in the State of Qatar have been preparing for the World Cup for many years.
They also have great experience in participating in hosting major events and mass gatherings.
The Healthcare teams have previously participated in many major tournaments and events hosted by the State of Qatar, including the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019, the World Athletics Championships 2019, and the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, HE said. The healthcare teams in Qatar have extensive experience in providing healthcare services during major public events and gatherings in Qatar, and are ready to meet the requirements of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Her Excellency added.
The ability of Qatar and its health system to respond to any pandemic has been demonstrated by its ability to confront the COVID-19 pandemic and limit the spread of the virus while maintaining the system of providing usual health care services to all members of society, continuing to develop the health system, opening new medical facilities and facilities that provide quality care. Thanks to the efforts of the health sector and the cooperation of the State’s agencies, Qatar was able to respond to the pandemic and overcome three waves of it. In addition to that, Qatar has one of the lowest death rates from COVID-19 in the world. Qatars efforts in this regard obtained the 15th place in the German magazine “Der Spiegel” among countries that dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic in the best way, and it was the only Arab country to be included.
The adoption of a scientific, evidence-based approach by making decisions according to the results of scientific studies and research, has contributed to improving the response of the State of Qatar to the pandemic, with the healthcare system characterized by its strength, flexibility, and ability to adapt to the plans set by the state to respond to pandemics.
The State of Qatar’s success in addressing this pandemic was not a coincidence, but rather thanks to scientific research, which was published in the most prestigious scientific journals, and adopting strict travel policies that take into account the nature of the spread of infection, the health systems ability to absorb it and the strength and flexibility of the system and its ability to adapt with the plans set by the state to raise the absorptive capacity and redistribute the specialized cadres quickly and effectively, were all factors that helped in the success of confronting the pandemic. The same factors are followed to address any pandemics or other health emergencies.
The State’s implementation of the largest vaccination campaign in the history of Qatar for citizens and residents for free against the COVID-19 is one of the important factors that greatly contributed to its response to the pandemic or any other pandemics. The State of Qatar ranked among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of vaccination coverage against COVID-19 compared to its population.
The national program for vaccination against COVID-19 achieved high coverage rates, as the total number of vaccine doses that have been given to the population of Qatar from the beginning of the vaccination campaign in December 2020 until April 8, was more than 6,670,000 doses. Meanwhile, the total number of booster doses of the vaccine (the third dose) given until April 8 is more than 1,478,000 doses, indicating the proactive approach taken by Qatar in addressing the pandemic.
The Ministry of Public Health also recently approved the use of the fourth dose of the Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna vaccine against COVID-19 for individuals at high risk of severe infection. The fourth dose is given to individuals aged 60 years and over and individuals with chronic diseases that increase the risk of severe infection caused by COVID-19 regardless of age.
As a result, in addition to community awareness and solidarity, through media campaigns that were implemented to promote awareness of the importance of following preventive measures and taking vaccinations, Qatar was able to successfully respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is accumulated experience in the health system that qualifies it to address any emergency health situations in the future.
Based on its belief that anti-Coronavirus vaccinations remain the most effective way to address pandemics, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) launched in January a campaign to vaccinate children from the age of 12 to 15, with the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of people who have been examined until April 8 as part of the investigation for the COVID-19 virus in the State of Qatar has reached more than 3,400,000 people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar implemented a comprehensive strategy to protect the population from the risk of infection, by adopting a comprehensive approach at the level of all state institutions, while applying effective policies for governance, relying on science and facts, and engaging the public in addressing this pandemic.
MOPH stresses that all the measures it takes to address epidemics are guided by the scientific approach and the evaluation of doctors, as in a number of cases, innovative decisions were implemented in the field of combating the COVID-19 epidemic in line with international practices and protocols, such as the period of isolation for infected people, the time standards for ending isolation, and the use of the viral load to guide the management of infected cases.
Along with research conducted by doctors and researchers in Qatar and published in prestigious scientific journals, this scientific approach and optimal use of resources, has enabled local and international efforts to combat the virus, including research that dealt with the effectiveness of the vaccine against new variants and the duration of immunity.
In the same context of protecting society from infectious diseases, including the Coronavirus, MOPH had launched -shortly after the emergence of COVID-19- an application on smart phones called ‘Ehteraz’, which has been developed to protect the community from the outbreak of COVID-19, as it tracks the transitional chains of the spread of the virus, provides users with accurate information, and helps specialized medical teams to provide health care when necessary.
Scientists in Qatar have also contributed a great deal of research and scientific studies that help curb infection, especially in the field of COVID-19, including a research study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The research study showed that, 14 days after receiving the second dose, the vaccination of fully-vaccinated people is 89.5 percent effective at preventing infection from the UK variant, and 75 percent effective at preventing infection from the South African variant, explaining that both numbers are considered very high.
The State of Qatar’s efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic were not limited to the interior, as it supported countries and organizations to overcome this pandemic, by providing assistance to dozens of countries, to support their efforts in facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
A contribution of USD 20 million was also allocated to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), in addition to signing a basic contribution agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) worth USD 10 million, to support the organization’s 13th work program and the initiative to accelerate the availability of tools to combat Coronavirus in countries most in need.
Qatar believes that working on developing vaccines and treatments, as well as joint scientific cooperation, is pivotal in addressing pandemics.
As part of the proactive steps taken by the country to deal with any abnormal health conditions, the State of Qatar, the World Health Organization and the International Football Association “FIFA” signed a memorandum of understanding to provide sporting events during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, characterized by great impact, sustainability and continuity.
During his intervention at Qatar Health Conference 2022, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that the partnership project between the three parties was built on methodological foundations that make raising awareness and promoting health and security concepts a top priority, with more focus on major mass gatherings, adding that a healthy and safe presentation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will leave a long-lasting legacy in terms of sport and health.
For his part, the Director-General of the WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in the message he addressed at the same conference as part of preparations for the FIFA World Cup, that the WHO worked with the MoPH inistry of Public Health in the State of Qatar to develop a program that includes simulation exercises and a review of the conditions of large mass gatherings, and this is focused on enhancing the level of health preparedness and security, addressing infectious diseases, maintaining food safety, coordination and communication, and the lessons learned will help us design health and safety precautions at other major events.
He also noted the support provided by the State of Qatar last year through “Let’s Work Together” campaign, which highlighted equal opportunities for obtaining the anti-virus (Covid-19) vaccine, testing to detect infection, and treating those infected with the virus, in addition to the participation of the World Health Organization in emergency medical operations in Afghanistan. Through its partnerships, methodologies, and health and scientific systems, Qatar has proven that it has taken all proactive measures that prevent the spread of epidemics through a set of well-studied procedures that are subject to experiments and scientific research.
The State of Qatar believes that investing in the health sector is the most successful way to address any exceptional health conditions such as pandemics and epidemics. Despite the great efforts made by the health sector to combat the COVID-19 pandemic over three years, the health care system in the State of Qatar continued its growth and development, as investment in new health facilities, services and technologies contributed to the development of the health sector infrastructure in the country in order to meet the health needs, in light of the steady population increase in the country, which are also factors that enable the health sector to address any pandemic or other waves.
