Dubai Science Park, a science- and healthcare-focused business community, engaged with experts to provide its community with a platform to remotely exchange expertise and knowledge. Last week, DSP welcomed key industry stakeholders to its inaugural Advance Health webinar to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.  The webinar was organised in partnership with Synapse Medical and Connect Communications.

International players are working tirelessly to improve testing and increase clinical trials to develop a vaccine and a treatment for COVID-19. Business partners in Dubai Science Park are contributing to this global effort, with Agiomix providing COVID-19 testing kits in the UAE.

The panel discussion explored why preventative measures such as social distancing are important to flatten the curve in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19 globally.

It was recorded behind closed doors to maintain the highest standards of health and safety and has been sent to Dubai Science Park’s community of more than 350 businesses, employing over 3,700 professionals.

Moderated by Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Managing Director, Dubai Science Park, the panellists included Dr Fatima Bin Shabib, Head of Policy Development, Dubai Health Authority, Dr Immanuel Moonesar, Associate Professor in Health Administration and Policy at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, and Wael Elamin, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Infection Control Doctor, King’s College Hospital Dubai.

Marwan Abdulaziz said: “At Dubai Science Park, the health and safety of our business partners is our upmost priority during these exceptional times, which makes this instalment of Advance Health all the more important. Sharing best practices in line with guidelines set by the relevant authorities is crucial for us to work together to flatten the curve so the UAE can continue to provide best-in-class care to patients.

He added: “Now is absolutely the right time to embrace emerging healthcare technologies such as telemedicine, apps and devices that are widely available so people can use them in line with guidelines issued by the relevant authorities.”

Dr Fatima Bin Shabib added: “It is a misconception that an individual below the age of 35 should not sanitise because you can still be a carrier. So far, the research shows that the course of the virus is not very clear. Some people are asymptomatic. Some people are getting a mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as sneezing or a runny nose. Some people are developing more serious complications where they require critical care. Therefore, if you are a healthy individual you need to sanitise, you definitely need to take measures to protect yourself and prevent yourself from carrying the virus from one person to another.”

Dr Immanuel Moonesar stressed: The World Health Organization has mandated its 193 members to set up national health security action plans for dealing with outbreaks and pandemics. A couple of years ago, a planning and risk mitigation exercise was carried out by several stakeholders including the Dubai Health Authority in collaboration and the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention, and the scenario was how to manage contagious diseases during Expo 2020 Dubai, which will welcome millions of people. It has been pre-empted and we were ready as a country to respond.”

Wael Elamin added: “The healthcare system in equipped to deal with this situation. In the UAE the median age of the population is around 33, reducing our need for intensive care beds, unlike Europe which is primarily a much older population. This proves that each country faces its own unique set of challenges when battling COVID-19. It is important to control flow to the hospitals in order to provide care to patients that are still coming in with other emergencies.”

Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi concluded the digital Advance Health session by advising the general public to stay safe and adopt self-distancing measures in line with protocols set by relevant government departments to prevent the spread of the virus.

Dubai Science Park hosts the Advance Health series to promote information sharing, encourage networking and improve patient outcomes in the UAE.