AR
UR
Dr Farida Al Hosani, official spokeswoman for the UAE's health sector, has officially joined the expert group of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that is tasked to manage the global preparedness and response to influenza pandemics.
An infectious disease expert herself, Dr Al Hosani joined the WHO's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework advisory group for the 2022 to 2024 period. As per reports, she is the first Emirate female member to be inducted into the PIP Framework.
Established in May 2011, the PIP Framework is aimed at improving the awareness related to influenza viruses among the general public. Furthermore, the framework helps in increasing access to vaccines and pandemic-related supplies for developing countries across the world.
The main agenda of the advisory group is to monitor the implementation of the PIP framework and provide evidence-based reporting, assessment and recommendations to the director-general of the organisation for enhanced task management. The group consists of 18 experts from member states.
Responding to the honour, Dr Al Hosani expressed excitement in joining the group and contributing her expertise to addressing global pandemics and advancing pandemic preparedness at a global level.
“I am looking forward to working closely with partners and experts from all over the world to support international healthcare efforts and build a healthy future for generations," she added.
Currently, Dr Al Hosani is the executive director of infectious disease at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre. Since the pandemic outbreak hit the UAE in April 2020, she has been informing the public about the UAE government's proactive response to the COVID-19 crisis through regular media briefings.
Matar Al Nuaimi, director general at the centre, hailed Dr Al Hosani as an integral aspect of the UAE's response to the pandemic. He stated that Dr Al Hosani has been actively working towards enhancing the efforts of the UAE government to fight the impact of the pandemic.
“Dr Farida Al Hosani has been an active participant across global, WHO level activities, as well as playing an integral role in the UAE’s response to the global Covid-19 pandemic, becoming a pioneering figure and adding to a long list of Emirati females engaged at an international level within their related fields," he added.
SOURCE: The National News