Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE is seeking to leverage its role in global climate negotiations to enhance the integration of health into climate policies, particularly for vulnerable countries, said Dr. Amal Mubarak Madhi, Director of the Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety Department at the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC).
Her remarks were made on Tuesday during a panel discussion on Climate Change and Health Emergencies at the sixth World Health Organisation (WHO) Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Global Meeting, hosted in Abu Dhabi from November 5-7.
The Declaration of Climate and Health, presented at COP28 in the UAE and endorsed by 151 countries, demonstrated the UAE's leadership in climate negotiations, she said.
According to Dr. Madhi, the UAE has been proactive in integrating climate-related health initiatives into its policies since 2009.
She emphasised the need for governments to prioritise health in global climate strategies.
"Climate change is a cross-border threat; any climate-related event in one part of the world can impact the rest," Dr. Madhi added, pointing to the risks posed by vector-borne diseases exacerbated by climate change.
Dr. Madhi also highlighted the UAE's commitment to helping vulnerable countries cope with increasing climate-related emergencies through investment, capacity-building and knowledge-sharing.
Organised by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, in partnership with WHO and supported by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), the EMT Global Meeting brings together over 500 international leaders in emergency management, disaster medicine, humanitarian aid, and more.
The three-day event will feature high-level strategic discussions, regional meetings, technical sessions, research presentations, workshops and an exhibition on innovation in global health emergency preparedness, response and resilience.
His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Khazraji, Acting Director General of ADPHC, told Aletihad this edition represents the most well-attended EMT Global Meeting in the history of the World Health Organisation (WHO), with representatives from at least 130 countries.
"We are very honoured and humbled that the WHO has chosen Abu Dhabi as the first place within the EMRO region to hold the Emergency Medical Team's Global meeting," said Al Khazraji.
He noted that the event showcases Abu Dhabi's capabilities in health emergency preparedness and response, while also initiating collaborations with the WHO and various partners aimed at enhancing health emergency management both locally and globally.
Abu Dhabi is working to establish a model for health emergency management that is integrated and digitally enabled, with an emphasis on preparedness and response.
"When health emergencies arise-as they inevitably will-we aim to react swiftly and proactively to minimize their impact," Al Khazraji stated.
He mentioned the upcoming Unified Medical Operations Command Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a first-of-its-kind integrated centre.
This hub will centralise everything from pre-hospital to hospital care, ensuring effective emergency response.
It will feature representatives from various stakeholders, including the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Crisis Management Centre, Abu Dhabi Police, Civil Defence, and other key government entities involved in emergency preparedness and response.
