UAE: Proactive Pandemic Preparedness Pioneer

UAE Ready for Future Pandemics: Lessons from Covid Era

The Covid-19 pandemic left a significant impact on global public health and provided important lessons for many countries in handling future crises. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) exemplifies how to proactively prepare for public health challenges. A leading health expert recently highlighted that the UAE has a comprehensive strategy to manage future pandemics and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation.

Proactive Preparation – The UAE Model

During the early days of Covid-19, the UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) implemented swift and effective measures. As news of the virus emerged in December 2019, the crisis team convened within five days to monitor flights from China and prepare for the inevitable spread. This quick response played a crucial role in enabling the UAE to manage the first wave of the pandemic without restrictions.

Healthcare professionals agree that the UAE prepares for future threats both reactively and proactively. "In the UAE, we are always ready for any pandemic or instability. We bring together all stakeholders, make plans, and use artificial intelligence to forecast any epidemic or disease," the expert emphasized.

Regional Cooperation – The Key to Global Safety

Regional cooperation is the sole true solution to overcoming pandemics. This standpoint is not only the UAE's but is also emphasized by leading health professionals from other nations. "No one will be safe until everyone is safe," a participant declared, alluding to the fact that pandemics know no borders.

The UAE not only focuses on protecting its own population but also actively participates in international aid programs. "The vision of the UAE leaders is proactive. The late ruler always emphasized that we must assist not only our own people but also other nations," the expert recalled.

During the pandemic, the UAE swiftly secured vaccines for its population and helped several other countries. Negotiations with pharmaceutical companies developing vaccines against influenza, Mpox, or Ebola are ongoing, to enable the UAE to support not only itself but other regions as well.

Lessons for the Future

One of the most important lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic is that instead of country-specific solutions, a regional approach is the only effective way. African and European experts also stress that pandemics spread faster partly due to a lack of funding, necessitating closer cooperation.

The UAE's example shows that effective planning, the use of technology, and global solidarity are key to handling public health crises more efficiently in the future. Proactive actions and international aid are not only moral obligations but strategic necessities since in a connected world, no one is safe until everyone is.

The UAE continues to be a significant player in global health cooperation, proving that protection against future pandemics is only possible collectively.

(Source of the article is a press release from the Public Health Sector of MoHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention).)