Dr. Othman Al Yafei
Epidemics and pandemics are neither normal nor usual natural occurrences. Seldom it happens that a disastrous happening of that kind takes given nations, countries or the like by surprise. Bewilderment provides good grounds for monitors to give explanations and at times excuses for the phenomenon.
In some cases suggestions have initially won the ground for the way out or even for the attainable cure. This was usually achieved by those who are loud speakers or even by those who are supposedly have the expertise.
Different countries have reacted in different ways to the pandemic. Some were reasonable and purely scientific, where others have not given the case the due care nor have taken the necessary precautionary measure to face such serious matter. It was only when the case got out of reach and out of control that they began to sound the alarm. It is true that the causalities were so alarming to the point of regret in some places.
Some countries, few they are, were on the right track and have managed to take the due necessities to safeguard their peoples. Of those, Qatar has taken the lead. It is true that COVID-19 pandemic is not explicitly new in the medical field; however it was/is a new threat that has brought about havoc in almost every facet of life, not only in Qatar, but worldwide at large.
The measures that were taken by the Qatari government were of tremendous success. “In a crisis, leaders serve as a repository for people’s fears,” Sapriel C. writes in the article “Effective crisis management: Tools and best practice for the new millennium”, in Journal of Communication Management further writing at another place: “Leaders say in effect - I hear you.”
On 6th of January 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) published the first disease outbreak news on coronavirus COVID-19. Since then, Qatar has stood up and set up a clear path to control and minimise the extent of the crisis to the minimum possible. In his speech on 24th of April, the leader of the country, Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, provided an effective vision and mission that allowed for a practical strategy of handling the crisis. Such vision drives and rallies the whole nation towards successful campaign of fighting COVID-19.
From this standpoint, the formation of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management came to confront the coronavirus crisis by setting effective measures to protect individuals, public and private property. To start with, an efficient and knowledgeable leadership took the right initiatives with regard to the areas that are or even supposed to spread the virus, from the media sector to the different concerned ministries and agencies and even to the Qatari public at large. The leadership was keen to address their responsibilities step by step towards all that were concerned.
At the airport and at all other entrances, no one was supposed to get in or to leave without being carefully tested. It became mandatory to wear a face masks for everyone. Universities and schools resorted to instruction online at own place depending on various technological means where teachers and instructors were trained to handle the task successfully. All other sectors were also looked into and necessary managements were applied.
As for the healthcare system, a robust health system provides reliable medical services to all residents in an effective manner. The health system in Qatar has showed the ability to handle the crisis with high level of professionalism. This was observed through successful process of communication with all the callers through 24 hours dedicated call centre, specialized medical cadres of doctors and nurses available all the time and over duty hours, and advanced facilities with the latest laboratory devices and equipment.
Dr. Ahmad AlMandari, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, praised the status of the healthcare system of Qatar and the way the crisis has been handled. He said in a an interview with a Al Lusail Newspapers on 30th of March 2020 that (as translated) “Qatar has a very advanced and established health system and provides high-quality healthcare services.”
Dr. Al Mandari also mentioned: “Qatar has taken care of patient safety through the use of highly trained cadres and the availability of health institutions with the necessary equipment to deal with various levels of this disease among people with moderate or severe injuries or between those who need isolation places and provide appropriate treatment for them, and also in terms of dealing with the spread of a healthy culture among individuals of society for permanent protection.”
The media sector played the role successfully where they actually informed the people with the true picture of the spread of the pandemic. Awareness programs and broadcasts were daily on air and in newspapers to enlighten the public with regard to all that concerns the pandemic.
In addition, using Ehteraz application in mobile phones was mandatory by the government. It was a leading venture in the field of high tech to provide an updated personal health picture to the whole public. No one was allowed to get into any place without showing that he/she was declared infection free using Ehteraz application.
These are the steps undertaken by the Qatari leadership, the Qatari government, the Qatari healthcare system, and the media. The way advanced technology was put into practice was certainly fundamental and crucial. Other cooperative role contributed to the aforementioned successes, on top of which, was the good and sound response from the people themselves and the way in which everybody reacted.
That has paved a good path to the successes that have been achieved so far. It is true that the one thousand miles path starts with the first step, and the march is still ongoing to reach the absolute goal ahead, which is to complete elimination of the virus.
