UAE will continue to work ‘tirelessly’ to curb coronavirus pandemic

Reem Al Hashimy was speaking at a global pledging conference hosted by the EU

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation. Victor Besa / The National 

Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State for International Co-operation, on Monday said the Emirates would persevere tirelessly in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Al Hashimy was representing the UAE at a global pledging conference where countries and international organisations committed to strengthening global co-operation against the pandemic.

The event sought to raise more than €7.5 billion (Dh30bn/US$8.18bn) to increase testing, expand treatment and invest in vaccine development.

It was hosted by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

Also involved were the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Wellcome Trust, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“The UAE is already an urgent, dedicated and responsible actor in the fight against Covid-19 and will continue to work tirelessly at the forefront of the global response to this malicious and relentless threat," Ms Al Hashimy said.

"We have airlifted more than 472 tonnes of medical aid, personal protective equipment  and supplies to 43 countries around the world.

"Our World Health Organisation hub in Dubai's International Humanitarian City has processed more than 132 shipments and acted as the primary distribution point of PPE for the organisation.
"Thus far, $110 million has been allocated and dispatched."

She spoke about the UAE’s extensive contact tracing and screening programmes, under which more than 1.2 million Covid-19 tests have been conducted to date.

Ms Al Hashimy also told of a breakthrough treatment at Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre.

It received a patent for the innovative treatment for Covid-19 patients that further advances the UAE’s contributions to international research and development, aiming to reduce the virus’ impact worldwide.

The UAE has 14,730 cases of the virus after 567 more infections were reported in the past 24 hours. To date, almost 3,000 patients have recovered, while 137 have died.