Coronavirus: UAE calls on people with background in health care to volunteer

Residents can register details at volunteers.ae

The deserted streets of Dubai with the Burj Khalifa in the background during April. EPA

Authorities in Dubai announced intensified restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles during early April. Pictured, Downtown Dubai. EPA

A road in Dubai is devoid of movement on April 5. AFP

Stay Safe Stay Home message on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A man wearing a face mask gazes at the Dubai skyline from a window on April 5, 2020. AFP

Normally busy roads are left empty in Dubai on April 5. EPA

Dubai's streets fall silent. EPA

A traffic restriction message on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The almost empty Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The almost deserted Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. EPA

An empty car park in the Design District after Dubai imposed new restrictions on travel and shopping due to the coronavirus. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An empty car park in the Design District after Dubai imposed new restrictions on travel and shopping due to the coronavirus. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A car park is shut outside Al Barsha Park. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A sign reading in Arabic 'stay at home' is seen on the almost empty streets of Dubai. EPA

Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road is deserted. AFP

Two people ride motorcycles on the almost empty streets of Dubai. EPA

A deserted Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. EPA

A person wearing protective face mask during the evening in Al Furjan area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The Burj Khalifa without any visitors in Downtown Dubai in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

An empty road in DIFC area in Dubai on April 6. Pawan Singh / The National

Residents with a background in medical practice have been urged to register as volunteers to help the UAE government tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
People with experience working in healthcare centres can upload their details through the volunteers.ae portal.

So far, more than 1,000 people have signed up to help and are working in hospitals, quarantine zones and hotels across the UAE.

Training has been provided by Sanid, an Emirates Foundation programme.

Masoud Al Hosani, the programme manager at Sanid, said residents and citizens could apply, whether they were retired or still working.

“We are really keen to have specialised volunteers register on the portal so they are ready and on-hand to be sent to critical situation sites,” Mr Al Hosani said.

“They may not be contacted initially but if they are registered we can identify how to best use them in areas that need support if the time comes.

“We urge those with a medical background to volunteer on the website and general volunteers can also upload their details to assist with additional operations.”

Sanid is an official programme that gives those offering their help the skills to support responders in "large-scale emergencies, crises and disasters".
Registered users go through a five-level training programme to ensure they are ready, including basic first aid and disaster preparedness methods.

“We have more than 1,000 volunteers working with ministries and authorities in the UAE due to the Covid-19 outbreak,” Mr Al Hosani said.

“Most of them are youths, however we want to shift some focus on more experienced professionals, particularly those with a medical background.

“It has been humbling to see such a good response from people willing to help.”

The programme is open to people aged 18 and over.

Mr Al Hosani said that over the past few months, residents have stepped up and been sent to different areas across the country.
In Dubai, volunteers have been assisting staff at two health centres.

“They have been carrying out temperature checks and swab analysis, as well as helping with crowd control and sanitisation operations within the centres,” Mr Al Hosani said.

“People have also been placed in one of the main government hospitals in the city to help out the public relations team and assist with patient movement.”

Some volunteers have also been posted to centres where people are being quarantined in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai.

Through donations from the Emirates Foundation and Emirates Red Crescent, they have been providing guests with “food, clothes and games to keep children entertained”.

“We have teams assisting with the National Sterilisation Programme in Umm Al Quwain and others are helping to deliver medicines to families and people in Ras Al Khaimah,” Mr Al Hosani said.

“In Abu Dhabi, we have volunteers on site helping to observe and assist people in quarantine at Emirates Humanitarian City.”

As of Monday, the UAE has registered 2,076 cases of coronavirus including 167 recoveries and 11 deaths.

Since the outbreak, which was first discovered in China in late December, the spirit of volunteerism has taken hold across the UAE.

People have helped to deliver thousands of meals and medical supplies to the doorsteps of residents who are unable to leave their homes.
They have also helped to support efforts in call centres, quarantine areas and hospitals across the country.