In recognition of its efforts to combat COVID-19, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) has been awarded the Gold Initiative Certificate – Elite Organisation, presented by the Arab Hospitals Federation. This certificate is issued to recognise and acknowledge the efforts and procedures undertaken by healthcare organisations, particularly in the Arab World, to manage and overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain the health and well-being of the community.
The Arab Hospitals Federation praised DoH for its distinguished performance and efficient response to the pandemic. Through the dedication of its team members and ongoing efforts towards providing world-class quality healthcare services, DoH has emerged as a leading model across the region, adapting and innovating throughout the course of this crisis.
DoH has been recognised for its exceptional performance in 8 out of 8 categories which include: regulation of staff in terms of directing, regulating and manging the work of teams and ensuring the integration of roles, good governance and leadership, community engagement, vaccination planning, administration and distribution, infection control, training and education, staff support and protection, building post COVID-19 services and innovative technology.
Commenting on this achievement, H.E. Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “Abu Dhabi has shown the world its unique response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earning such prestigious awards and recognition for our response to the challenges of the pandemic is a testament of the continuous efforts of our wise leadership who have continuously prioritised and ensured the health and safety of all members of the community. The Arab Hospitals Federation’s Award presented to DoH is one of the many achievements that we have accomplished since the beginning of the pandemic. It serves as a motivation for us to continue our efforts to cement Abu Dhabi as a leading and extraordinary model and setting an example for the world to follow in curbing the pandemic and its challenges.”
“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have worked alongside all of our stakeholders to maintain the health and safety of our community by focusing on key elements that have shaped our effective response to the challenges. This includes constantly coordinating with involved entities locally and internationally, investing in enhancing the efficiency and expertise of healthcare workers and further complimenting the ongoing epidemiological investigation of COVID-19 efforts, in addition to moving ahead with our vaccine intake plans. This enabled the UAE to become one of very first countries to provide the vaccine and distribute it among the population. The advanced infrastructure has also played a huge role in empowering the healthcare sector to present such a leading model”, Al Hamed added.
H.E. Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, said: “The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi being awarded by the Arab Hospitals Federation reflects the success of foresighted plans that Abu Dhabi has adopted in tackling the pandemic and the vital role that DoH is playing alongside Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre to control the virus and protect the safety of all workers during these current challenges that the world is living in. We are also working together to prepare for and adapt to a post-COVID-19 era.”
Prof. Tawfik Khoja, General Secretary of the Arab Hospitals Federation, said: “It is very inspiring for the Arab countries to witness how DoH has braved and overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and has intensified its efforts to serve its community. It has won the battle in all aspects and this success is a testament of their dedication, innovation, professionalism and hard work. We at the Arab Hospitals Federation are proud of DoH’s work because it has raised the bar high for its quality of healthcare services, and its performance in catering to the needs of all the members of its community.”
Within the framework of the nominations, and in the first phase of the “Gold Initiative”, a total of 58 hospitals and healthcare organisations from 8 Arab countries have participated and submitted their files to be evaluated by the initiative's judging panel, and 18 of them were qualified to the second phase.
The success of the first phase of the Gold Initiative has contributed to building a great reputation and trust in the healthcare sector, including the World Health Organisation, the Middle East and North Africa Health Policy Forum, University of Washington, Arab Health Associations and many others, and this has led the Arab Hospitals Federation to expand the scope of this initiative.
The Arab Hospitals Federation is an independent, non-political and non-profit organisation that represents and serves Arab public and private hospitals, medical centres, institutions and organisations directly connected with the provision of healthcare.
