In an urgent virtual Asian Parliamentary Assembly meeting held recently to review various measures to tackle the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Emirati Parliamentary Division presented several suggestions related to the ongoing crisis. During its participation in the meeting, the Emirati division suggested the drafting of a joint parliamentary strategy for formulating plans, policies, and mechanisms that will work on countering the impact of the pandemic and will provide support to hard-hit sectors of society from the health crisis including economy, community, and services.

The Emirati delegation consisted of the Federal National Council (FNC) members DherarBelhoul Al Falasi and Mohammed Issa Al Khashf who urged the Asian parliaments to interact and collaborate with international organizations and major authorities in a bid to ensure equal access of future vaccines for all countries.

The division further laid emphasis on the role of Asian parliaments in organizing regular meetings and seminars remotely where experts can exchanges ideas and recommendations such that their experiences can benefit in drafting laws and plans for tackling pandemics and countering economic, social and health effects triggered from them.

According to Al Falasi, the delegation highlighted local and international efforts taken by the UAE and its leadership in preventing the spread of the novel Coronavirus, along with its humanitarian efforts, particularly in the global health sector.

In addition, Al Kashf asserted that UAE's action plan against the pandemic crisis is a model to follow, especially in relation to the millions of COVID-19 tests conducted by the Emirati authorities. Significantly, the UAE further plans to conduct 2 million additional tests in a bid to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease.

WAM