UAE, September 27, 2017 - The Ministry of Health and Prevention, represented by the Health Centers and Clinics Sector, recently organized an interactive workshop on SWOT analysis to support the National Immunization Program and in line with its mission to provide world-class and high-quality healthcare services to prevent the spread of diseases in the community. The vaccination policy has been upgraded and the coverage to reach 99%, the workshop was conducted with the participation of concerned consultants from supervisory and technical in vaccination field to analyze the current domestic health situation; identify the health system’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as challenges and opportunities; and develop action plans to achieve the national indicators related to prevention and immunization.

Among the high-ranking attendees included H.E. Dr. Hussein Abdel Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Clinics and Centers Sector; Dr. Nada Marzouqi, Director of Preventive Medicine Department; Dr. Laila Al-Jasmi, Head of the Immunization Section; and health authorities and representatives from the licensing department, health compliance management, medical store and procurement department.

Through the workshop, H.E. Dr. Al Rand said that the Ministry has demonstrated anew its commitment to provide comprehensive and integrated healthcare services delivered in innovative and sustainable ways. Such will help prevent the spread of diseases in the UAE community, achieve the national health agenda, and ensure the delivery of quality services according to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism. By providing basic immunization services according to the National Immunization Program, the Ministry is preventing the spread of infectious diseases and effectively covering a wider segment of society to ensure the best results.

According to H.E. Dr. Al Rand, the UAE has made great progress in eliminating and controlling many diseases, included poliomyelitis, enumerated in the National Immunization Program. The Ministry, H.E. said, will continuously coordinate with key partners and follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by providing safe vaccines to children, adults, pilgrims, and travelers.

Dr. Marzouqi said the workshop focused on five main topics stemming from the Ministry’s five-year objectives and strategies. These were the development of immunization policy; the accuracy of coverage reports; the role of the private sector; increased awareness; and vaccine cold chain system.  

“At the end of the workshop, we successfully created major initiatives and action plans based on the national indicators to develop and strengthen the health system and protect the community from vaccine preventable diseases. We are working to implement them soon to support the national indicators concerning preventive and quality healthcare,” said Dr. Marzouqi.