Sharjah, June 29, 2020:   The Health Promotion Department (HPD) at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah (SCFA), has hosted a virtual youth circle titled “The role of youth in the fight against COVID-19” to discuss how electronic systems and social media can help combat the spread of Covid-19.  

Held through video conference in collaboration with the Federal Youth Authority, the online event saw the participation of more than 286 young men and women.

The youth circle shed light on the responsibility of young people to maintain community health, their impact on ensuring a successful coexistence with the virus, as well as the extent of the impact that young people's commitment can have on putting an end to the pandemic.

 

Key participants include HE Dr. Khawla Al Mulla, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), HE Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Muhairi, Director of Sharjah Health Authority, and HE Iman Rashid Saif, Director of the Health Promotion Department. 

 

Also taking part in the event, which was moderated by the journalist Mohammad Imran, were Dr. Aisha Suhail, Director of Primary Health Care Department at the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), and Dr. Anwar Al Hammadi, Consultant Dermatologist and Cosmetic Surgeon.

 

The HPD affirmed that the youth circle was held as part of its commitment to supporting young people and helping them play a crucial role in addressing major global challenges. It is also to motivate the youth to innovate adequate solutions for the post-Covid-19 world and help build a better future for all.

 “The UAE firmly believes that the youth are the engine of the present and builders of the future; the youth circle comes as a concrete representation of this honorable model and a true reflection of our country’s vision aimed at empowering this vital category,” Dr. Khawla Al Mulla affirmed. 

 

“The SCFA is keen to unify the ongoing efforts being made by all affiliated institutions and departments, coordinate work and launch initiatives and events with a view to achieving optimal investment in the human capital by developing their capabilities and opening up promising future prospects. We especially focus on the youth, children and women to develop generations capable of taking the Emirate of Sharjah into new heights,” Al Mulla added. 

 

“Paying utmost attention to Emirati youth and their aspirations has been and will remain a top priority for our wise leadership, thank to them being the backbone of the nation, its engine, and constant drive for innovation and development. The positive spirit that we are seeing today among young people while facing the Covid-19, is the fruit of our leadership’s forward-looking vision and its bet on our young people, who set great examples in the front line of defense, demonstrating their full awareness to face challenges, assuming their responsibilities and raising their level of readiness to protect society against all  health hazards,” she further said.

 

For her part, Iman Rashid Saif emphasized that hosting the youth circle comes as part of the HPD’s keenness to stimulate young people to share their ideas and suggestions, in line with the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, to give this indispensable category enough space and an ideal environment to express themselves, invest their potential and boost their capabilities.

 

“The exceptional circumstances that the world is going through today are an important opportunity for young people, to acquire expertise and skills that enable them to deal with various situations, especially in times of crisis. Once this essential category is provided with special and necessary trainings and are equipped with fresh knowledge and skills, they can play a greater role and contribute more effectively to the prevention of pandemics. They can also engage better in crisis management and address all potential effects in the short and long term, in a way that contributes to the protection of Emirati society,” Saif highlighted.

Additionally, Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Muhairi stressed that the health sector has been and will remain a top priority for our wise leadership, which spared no effort to guarantee health and safety of all citizens and residents.

 

“Sharjah’s health institutions are doing their utmost to provide the best healthcare possible to everyone in accordance with the highest levels of quality, in line with the vision and directives of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah,” Al Muhairi said, highlighting the important role that youth can play in supporting the healthcare system, especially as the vast majority of healthcare workers are young people.

For her part, Dr. Aisha Suhail said: “The UAE has followed a unique approach in dealing with the novel coronavirus and its health and social repercussions. In addition to taking precautionary and preventive measures, the UAE has charted out emergency plans and adopted integrated strategies that have proven successful in maintaining the performance of all sectors, where young people had an important role in supporting and participating in these plans”.

Moreover, Dr. Anwar Al Hammadi also said: “The youth can play a crucial role in overcoming all challenges, especially as they enjoy great potential, and therefore it is meaningful and important to rely on young people to find innovative solutions, and encourage them to actively participate in supporting the state's efforts being made to address coronavirus and its repercussions,”.

 

The youth circle witnessed a wide interaction among participants who shared their visions and ideas about the role of digital media during the coronavirus pandemic, and the most prominent challenges they face.

 

They highlighted the need to spread awareness and take health information from official sources only, and not to rely on what is published on social media. They also agreed on the importance of disseminating a culture of commitment to preventive and precautionary measures, to ensure the success of the country's efforts in the fight against the pandemic.

 

The participants also suggested allocating a number of compulsory hours for volunteering for the general secondary school students and employees, to foster a culture of volunteering, in addition to forming volunteer teams specialized in disaster and crisis management, as well as introducing privileges to attract students to study medical and health specialties and launching a health media platform to promote for health-related topics.