1. Handling the COVID-19 outbreak
  2. Volunteering to fight COVID-19

Volunteering to fight COVID-19

Ministry of Health and Prevention is training volunteers to support the UAE’s medical system. Federal Youth Authority launched initiatives with an aim to raise the readiness of Emirati youth and get their support in reducing the effects of the pandemic on the community. Ministry of Community Development and Federal Youth Authority launched a set of guidelines to increase the awareness of the youth on how to take care of senior Emiratis adequately.

Supreme National Committee for Volunteerism during Crises

The UAE Cabinet approved the formation of the ‘Supreme National Committee for Volunteerism during Crises aiming to create an integrated and sustainable national volunteering system during times of crises, in cooperation with all relevant authorities, individuals and institutions.

 

The committee will supervise the work of all national volunteering agencies during times of crises and receive and approve volunteer requests through the Volunteers.ae platform. It will also manage volunteers, ensure their health and safety and provide them with the support necessary to execute their role. It will also coordinate with local government and quasi-government agencies to consolidate volunteer campaigns during times of crises.

Volunteering for phase III of clinical trial of COVID 19 vaccine

As per information on 16 July 2020, very soon, Abu Dhabi will host the world’s first global clinical phase-III trials of COVID-19 inactivated vaccine enlisted by World Health Organisation (WHO). The UAE requested interested volunteers to register themselves for these trials through the 4humanity website.

 

The phase-III clinical trials will test up to 15,000 volunteers including men and women, aged between 18 and 60 of mixed nationalities. Volunteers will be allowed to participate in the trial based on a medical check-up. Trials should be completed in 6 to 8 months.

 

The UAE’s health authorities dedicated a special hotline, 02- 8191111 to respond to volunteering queries about these trials.

 

The UAE became one of the first few nations to go ahead with human trials and reach phase III of testing a vaccine for COVID-19. Read more about ‘First Global Phase III Clinical Trials of COVID-19 Inactive Vaccine in Abu Dhabi’ (PDF, 350 KB).

Abu Dhabi Health Workforce Management System

Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) launched the Abu Dhabi’s Health Workforce Management System, a new digital platform through which clinical staff from across the UAE can register to work full or part-time as a volunteer in the emirate’s healthcare sector.

 

Healthcare facilities in the emirate will be able to log on to the platform, review the profiles of volunteers who have registered and communicate with them directly. They will also be able to assign the volunteers the right roles based on their skillsets and the terms and conditions for employment.

 

Clinical workers who meet the following requirements can register through the online portal to apply to work or volunteer:

  • Volunteers must be willing to work additional hours
  • They must hold an eligibility letter or have previously passed the DoH healthcare exam
  • They must have completed the procedures of data flow or hold a medical licence from Dubai Health Authority or Ministry of Health and Prevention
    • They should be eligible to work in the healthcare sector and interested to obtain a licence to practice medicine in Abu Dhabi.

 

Retired healthcare workers are welcome to volunteer.

Training volunteers to help face coronavirus

Ministry of Health and Prevention is training volunteers to support the UAE’s medical system, as part of a range of national awareness, training and prevention initiatives that aim to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

 

Federal Youth Authority launched initiatives with an aim to raise the readiness of Emirati youth and get their support in reducing the effects of the pandemic on the community. The initiatives include:

  • a course on the basics of prevention against pandemics
  • launch of the ‘Values for Generations’ initiative, which connects senior citizens with the youth to share valuable advice on methods of prevention
  • a guide for caring for senior citizens to engage Emirati youth in caring for the elderly, and protecting them against pandemics
  • launch of ‘Digital Opportunity Platform’ that lets Emirati youth to browse and access all opportunities to participate in the efforts to address pandemics
  • launch of the ‘Youth Waqf’ initiative with the objective of engaging young Emiratis, as well as organisations, in allocating endowments to buy products that protect the society from pandemics.

Youth Guide to Care for Senior Emiratis and Protect Them from Pandemics

Ministry of Community Development and Federal Youth Authority launched a set of guidelines title ‘Youth Guide to Care for Senior Emiratis and Protect Them from Pandemics’ to increase the awareness of the youth on how to take care of senior Emiratis adequately.

 

The guidelines provide a set of recommendations for the youth on how to provide the best care to senior Emiratis in the event of a pandemic and highlights the precautionary measures to be taken to prevent the seniors from becoming infected or ill. It lays special emphasis on taking care of those seniors who suffer from chronic diseases or lack immunity.

 

Read the guideline (in Arabic).

Efforts of other volunteering institutions

In addition, the following institutions, programmes and initiatives cater to a variety of community needs:

 

Related links

Updated on 11 Sep 2021

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