Jaber Mohamed Al Shuaibi, Emirati Researcher in Geopolitical Issues
10 June 2020
The Emirati values of loyalty and positivity have always been fruitful at the time of crises, and this has been demonstrated during several stages of the life of the State. The citizen and resident’s feeling of happiness and security promotes the values of solidarity in the face of the difficult challenges. The firm and stable linkage between the leadership and the people was not the first of its kind at the time of COVID-19 pandemic, but it was appeared when confronting previous challenges. The cornerstone of this firm linkage is the social construct that is based on the ethical values and the conduct patterns going beyond the family limits to extend to all segments of the society, particularly the respectful category of workers. This achieves the real balance of the economic, health and educational systems and creates more diversified and coexistent community.
Our wise leadership pays considerable attention to the health system, particularly in the light of the circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic, where the white army (healthcare professionals) found themselves on the frontline at the battle against this pandemic. Moreover, the other sectors are exerting notable efforts to fight the pandemic. The messages of our role model H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Deputy of the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces since the beginning of the crisis were the main drive of the community’s commitment to the necessary precautionary measures, considering the human health in the UAE as the first priority at all times. Moreover, top notch comprehensive healthcare are provided.
Combating Corona pandemic has constituted an opportunity to promote the sense of social responsibility for combating the infectious diseases, where no vaccine is designed until now. This responsibility is regulated by procedures and decisions imposing fines on the violators of the precautionary measures. In this regard, the call for discipline protects the community from harms. At the time of COVID-19 pandemic, Abu Dhabi Emirate witnessed great examples of the social initiatives via the different institutions of the Emirate. The number of these initiatives reached 60 initiatives covering awareness-raising and provision of aids, with the participation of various government bodies. One of the most prominent of these initiatives was “Together We are Good”, which was launched as a part of a program announced by “Ma’an Authority for Social Contribution” of the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi. This initiative is the first project of the social fund of Ma’an Authority to promote the social responsibility and to enhance the individual in-kind and cash contributions in the medical, educational and food areas.
The Department of Community Development launched questionnaires at the time of COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter, in order to involve the community in setting government policies that are able to remove the epidemics-related concerns and fears and to reinstate to the ordinary life quickly after this pandemic to maintain a permanent healthy life style.
The “Fund of the UAE, Homeland of Humanity” was established to receive the contributions of individuals and corporates to confront the pandemic in coordination with the National Emergency, Crises and Disasters Management Authority, the UAE Red Crescent Authority and the humanitarian associations and organizations in the countries. This is considered as a well-established framework supporting social solidarity. At the time of the crisis, the workers received apparent care represented in holding awareness-raising campaign in their mother tongues, providing medical checks and applying preventive measures for protection from the pandemic. It is believed that the harmony and cohesion of the community, whether at the times of prosperity and well-being or at the crisis time, promote the values of community solidarity and cohesion and deepen them more. In the UAE, the culture of giving and lending helping hand is deeply entrenched in the community, and this culture can be called upon easily at the time of crises in the light of the awareness and sense of responsibility, which can be relied on to face the current challenges that depend considerably on the individual conduct as a significant element for protection against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
