Qatar provided medical aid to over 80 countries to combat COVID-19

Doha: Qatar has not only proved its resilience in facing COVID-19 pandemic but also provided emergency medical assistance to over 80 countries in their fight against global outbreak.

Qatar, during COVID-19 pandemic, provided urgent medical assistance to over 80 countries around the world, the Government Communications Office (GCO) said in a video shared on its Twitter account. It adds that Qatar also pledged $10m to the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat the global pandemic. “The State of Qatar additionally pledged $20m to the GAVI alliance.”

The video tells the story of Qatar’s resilience in tackling COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the steps taken by the country in the last many months to beat the global health challenge.

“Qatar has proven its resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s healthcare system was well-prepared to face the coronavirus outbreak with one of the world’s best healthcare infrastructures. Qatar has supported its people and aided those affected around the world,” the GCO tweeted.

The video shared with the tweet said that as the coronavirus became a global pandemic, Qatar’s healthcare system was prepared with the highest number of doctors per capita and ranking fourth in the world for healthcare satisfaction.

“To ensure the safety of its population and strengthen global efforts against the virus, the country built field hospitals needed for isolation in record time; developed the contact tracing app Ehteraz; produced 992,000 litres hand sanitisers and 12,400,000 masks every month.”

The GCO tweet says that Qatar manufactured 8,000 ventilation devices per month through Barzan Holdings, launched a WhatsApp chatbox in six languages, established drive through coronavirus testing across the country. Qatar also approved QR75bn of financial incentives for the private sector and increased government investments in the Qatari stock exchange, it added.

It is pertinent to mention that Qatar had pledged $10m to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the finding of testing equipment, treatment, and vaccine for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition to its $20m contribution to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) in June this year.

Qatar has provided aid to different countries of the world at the governmental and non-governmental levels. The non-governmental aid was provided by Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent Society and it also includes aid provided by private sector institutions/companies.

Improved life expectancy, better health outcomes, and investment in health infrastructure had led to Qatar being ranked 5th in the world for health by the Legatum Institute, a London-based think tank in 2019. In compiling the health ranking in the annual prosperity index, countries’ performance in three areas, including basic health outcomes; health infrastructure and preventative care; and physical and mental health had been evaluated. Qatar is the only country in the region to score in the top five on the annual prosperity index, placing behind Singapore, Luxembourg, Japan, and Switzerland.

Source: The Peninsula