The Sheikha Fatima Volunteer Program has recently launched the Emirates Voluntary Health Awareness Initiative “Tawawiya” aiming to spread health awareness and education among various sections of the society. Under the motto "Do not paralyze them", the initiative will take place under the close supervision of UAE's skilled doctors who will be using mobile buses equipped with field and virtual health education technology.

The initiative was hosted by the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charity and Humanitarian Foundation. Originating from the Zayed Giving Initiative and General Women’s Union’s initiative, it involves the participation of healthcare volunteers from the Emirates Ambassadors for Health Awareness and Education; Mobile Community Health Clinic; Health Volunteering Center; and the Emirates Giving Society. The initiative will work as a model for government and private institutions to work together, along with non-profit initiatives to facilitate awareness of public health.

Explaining about the initiative, Noura Al Suwaidi, Director of the General Women’s Union, said that Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s volunteering program has launched the Emirates Voluntary Health Awareness Initiative with the key objective to attract, qualify, and empower frontline healthcare experts at local and international level to facilitate healthcare volunteering across all emirates and to better serve the communities across the country. The initiative also aims to give back to the homeland by adopting various voluntary health initiatives that will assist in raising community awareness about major diseases along with the best techniques to prevent and treat the disease, particularly epidemic and chronic diseases. Furthermore, it will also help in adoption of innovative ideas and projects in the areas of health awareness and education to support the efforts of the authorities to contain the impact and spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the country. In addition, the initiative seeks to increase community awareness of methods of prevention and treatment for epidemic and chronic diseases.

She further stated that the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak’s volunteer program was established following the generous initiative of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Union of Women, Chairwoman of the Supreme Council on Maternity and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Mother of the Nation’s Mother Development Foundation. With the aim of inviting young volunteers, rehabilitating them and supporting them locally, the initiative aims to enable people to serve the communities. 

Taking note of the directives of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State and his brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the initiative strives to teach the people about voluntary health, community giving and human tolerance.

Based on the vision of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the initiative also aims to empower young people to develop a culture of volunteering, community giving and human tolerance.

Al Suwaidi further hailed the efforts taken by the non-profit and humanitarian foundation Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for hosting the initial sessions of the health awareness initiative based on significant collaboration of both government and private sector according to the guidelines of the UAE's leadership towards health and community awareness for the betterment of all sections of society, citizens and residents in a bid to achieve a healthy and safe community.

For his part, Hamad Salem bin Kardous Al Ameri, General Director of the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Foundation for Charitable and Humanitarian Purposes, expressed happiness towards launch of the first stages of Sheikha Fatima’s Voluntary Health Awareness program which will not only lead to increasing community awareness towards major diseases and effective preventive and treatment methods but will also empower doctors to serve various groups of the society.

He further praised the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s voluntary and humanitarian efforts which have helped in ensuring diagnostic, treatment and prevention services to millions of people in different countries around the world at both local and international level. Her initiatives have provided an innovative model for boosting community volunteering, human tolerance and community giving.

Al Ameri went on to honour the Emirates doctors who have volunteered for the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak program, as part of the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Foundation’s Charity and Humanitarian initiatives. The honor was received by Fatima Al Mahrizi, General Personnel Director Women’s Union, in the presence of Dr. Adel Al Shamri, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative, Director of the Sheikha Program, Fatima volunteers and several volunteers of the Emirates Voluntary Health Awareness Initiative.

Dr.Noura Al Ali, one of the Emirates Volunteer leaders, stated that the Sheikha Fatima Volunteer Program launched the Emirates Voluntary Health Awareness Initiative, in accordance with the gradual return of the country to normal life, with the stage slogan “We are sweeping back with caution".

One of the main goals of the voluntary initiative is to ramp up the efforts towards spreading awareness and health education. Health volunteers are working in different regions and cities of the country along with the participation of various community groups, particularly the relevant civil and non-profit organizations, to support the official efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 disease and facilitate the return of normal life with safety and protection.

In addition, Dr.Noura Al Ali also highlighted that the initially significantly focuses on spreading health information approved by health institutions and raising awareness in areas outside the cities as well as to visitors in commercial centers and popular markets. She went on to emphasise that the Emirates Voluntary Health Awareness Initiative has sought to raise health awareness among workers across various sectors for a period of 6 weeks since its inception. It will work by creating opportunities for volunteers in the area of ​​health awareness and by training more than 100 health care volunteers as well as provide them with the material support to facilitate education of other beneficiaries.

Al-Anoud Al-Ajami, Director of the Zayed Giving Initiative and Executive Director of the Emirati Voluntary Young Leaders Program, stated that the initiative aims to encourage community members to pursue healthy lifestyle and raise awareness among the community as the country returns to normalcy. It also seeks to reinforce the importance of physical activity, healthy eating, and avoiding unhealthy behaviours which will equip them with the skills necessary to tackle chronic diseases, particularly high blood pressure, high lipids among others.

She stressed that the voluntary health initiative is part of a Promoting Healthy Lifestyles Awareness initiative, which is being carried out across various neighbourhoods, commercial centers and housing complexes for workers, factories and government agencies to boost the awareness of preventive health measures and to build healthy societies.

Laying emphasis on the importance of public awareness initiative to disseminate information about major chronic and infectious diseases, she stressed on the need to wear masks, maintain social distancing, and washing hands properly. She also stated that the campaign will be launched in several languages across larger geographic areas in a bid to reach every neighbourhoods and workplaces to make the awareness campaign more reachable and effective. It will teach the community about preventing Coronavirus and limiting the spread of the disease. In addition, sterilization materials and tools will be provided to volunteers to assisting them necessary requirements to maintain and care for their health and of the community. The campaign also includes health lectures and workshops focusing on prevention of Coronavirus infection, ways of transmission, protection of yourself and of the community, symptoms of the infection, and other instructions.