A unified approach has boosted the UAE's fight against Covid-19 as the country now faces up to the stern challenges of reinvigorating the economy and opening up schools and air travel safely, a senior envoy said.
Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador to the United States, said many obstacles still lie ahead as the country navigates "uncharted territory" in the first episode of a new podcast series.
Mr Al Otaiba hosted a 30 minute discussion in the US with Cleveland Clinic chief executive Dr Tom Mihaljevic and Children’s National Hospital counterpart Dr Kurt Newman.
They assessed the journey ahead for countries across the globe seeking to secure the best exit strategy from a pandemic which has gripped health services and economies for several months.
“If is fair to say we are all in completely uncharted territory,” said Mr Al Otaiba.
“We do not know if there is a standard approach to this virus that should be adopted or if countries should choose what best suits their society.
“The challenge is learning how to navigate this and when to turn the economy back on.
“How do we get people safely back to work and get planes flying again in a pattern where livelihoods are not at risk?
“In the UAE we are a small country and we cannot afford to take seven different approaches within each emirate, so we have taken a more centralised approach.”
The health executives shared their experiences of how each hospital has dealt with coronavirus on the frontline and what will change in the future.
"A deep economic decline and a fragment of care for many patients in our communities will lead to a potentially substantive death toll."
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi passed on lessons learned in day-to-day operations to aid their US counterparts.
“Pandemics and disease do not recognise boundaries, we are all in this together so it is a unifying force for the greater good,” said Dr Mihaljevic.
In describing the current challenge, Dr Mihaljevic said health care professionals were essentially using tools from the 14th century to combat a disease of the 21st century.
He said more could be done to utilise artificial intelligence, data exchange and advanced pharmaceuticals to defeat Covid-19.
Health of the economy is crucial
The medics said the biggest challenge in public debate now is the balance between finance, economics and human life.
“We have a responsibility that a deep economic decline and a fragment of care for many patients in our communities will lead to a potentially substantive death toll,” said Dr Mihaljevic, a cardiac surgeon responsible for overseeing CCAD’s overall strategy.
“Poverty leads to worse public health outcomes so we must not lose sight of the simple fact that a vast majority of the health burden requires constant attentions and cannot be interrupted.
Since the global pandemic emerged, hospitals in the US and the UK have reported a significant decline in new diagnosed cancer cases.
“The cancer had not gone away, but people cannot access care because they are unemployed or are scared to go to the hospital,” said Dr Mihalievic.
“This cannot be ignored. This pandemic had infected many people, it has also effected many people.”
The Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC maintains a long-standing relationship with the UAE.
It is home to the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, a research institute aimed at making surgery more precise, less invasive, and pain free.
With still much to learn from the virus, the hospital’s chief executive Dr Newman warned against rushing children back to school too soon.
“We learned early about a new condition that overwhelms the immune systems in children,” he said.
“This first appeared in the UK and we have a long way to go before we understand this disease and its wider implications on health.”
The most recent data suggests children represent less than 2 per cent of confirmed coronavirus infections in China, the US, Spain, Italy and Korea.
Call for caution over return to school
It is unclear if they are less likely to contract the virus or cases are undiagnosed because symptoms are mild or non-existent.
A study from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found 18 per cent of those studied tested positive, but did not report symptoms.
Doctors have seen a rare, post-viral response in children who are genetically susceptible, days or weeks after getting infected.
Symptoms are similar to toxic-shock syndrome in older children, with fever, skin rashes, low blood pressure, abdominal pain and changes in skin colour.
It has also been compared to Kawasaki disease seen in children under five, with boys more susceptible.
As more is learned about the disease, better guidance can be delivered on when children should return to school.
“There is still a lot of uncertainty about children going back to school in September,” said Dr Newman.
“It is too early to know if children are not severely impacted by this virus.
“It is so important to have children in school but we need to know they will be safe and until there is a vaccine, we do not know if that will be possible.
“It will be a very difficult trade-off.”
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Andor
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
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5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
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6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
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6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
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7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Midnights'
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS EXPLAINED
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
Read more about the coronavirus
