Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), yesterday underlined the powerful role of the healthcare sector and several QF institutes in the country’s fight against COVID-19.

This came during her address at the convocation ceremony of Education City universities that took place virtually.

“We have spoken before about the direct and profound impact of both the health and education sectors on all other sectors. Indeed, this pandemic has proven the extent of this impact,” she said.

“As soon as the crisis affected the health sector, it swept through others, and drew attention to the necessity of doubling our emphasis on this sector,” she added.

“Every challenge we face teaches us new lessons and inspires new values that enable us, together, to form new perspectives about the reality of the world as it changes,” Sheikha Moza noted.

She mentioned that the shift in social trends in recent years witnessed “an overwhelming trend of people gravitating towards work in the business sector, while at the same time general interest towards work in the health sector decreased.”

Consequently, there was a “shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in technical fields. An issue that will require new policies and budgets to improve and sustain the health sector,” she said.

She said she anticipates “a new and significant shift between young people towards the health sector, after the pandemic proved to everyone just how important the medical profession is and the extent of its impact on all aspects of life.”

It is an importance that stems from healthcare’s centrality to everything around it, she stated.

“We have seen how the world was suddenly paralyzed in the face of the pandemic, as the health sector struggled to contain this abrupt predicament.

“Every country, developed or otherwise, was equally reeling in the face of the pandemic and its repercussions. At that time, new convictions arose, expressing a new awareness, both in an official capacity and among the public, that would restore the status of medicine and its vital role in protecting humanity,” Her Highness underlined.

However, the world can not flourish with one specialization, she mentioned.

“We cannot build a strong foundation without all your specializations together. While you may notice a focus on medicine, it does not indicate a preference for this field.

“It simply reflects what the coronavirus pandemic has brought about in terms of great changes in life, business, and health. And yet, the value of knowledge remains the same, whether in science, literature or art. No one field takes precedence over another in its importance, and the value it brings to our lives,” she said.

HH Sheikha Moza also spoke about the efforts of various QF institutes in helping Qatar deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar developed in-house, accurate testing for COVID-19, and another sensitive test to detect antibodies through blood and urine sample, in addition to the efforts of its professors and students in studying and examining protective antibodies to be used against the virus.

“Qatar Foundation researchers and students with molecular biology skills volunteered at Hamad Medical Corporation laboratories to provide technical assistance in analyzing COVID-19 samples.

“Qatar Biomedical Research Institute also developed a Serology Kit to detect COVID-19 antibodies in record time.

“And, at Qatar Computing Research Institute, experts developed a contact tracing technology that tracks people’s movement based on cell phone data, and identifies the location of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, to help limit the spread of the virus in Qatar.

"At Sidra Medicine, a new COVID-19 rapid test was developed in 2020, maintaining 98 percent accuracy. This method will reduce the cost of testing by approximately 75 percent.

"And Qatar Genome Program participated in the COVID-19 Host Genetic Initiative, making it the only Arab participant in this global initiative.”

While there was significant scientific progress, there remain numerous human genetic codes yet to be understood.

“I am certain that, among your generation, there will be those who will go on to contribute to deciphering these codes, and to play their part in bringing scientific renaissance to this region,” she told graduates.

“Always remember, crises will ultimately fade away. But, you, with your knowledge and expertise, will forever remain,” Sheikha Moza concluded.

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Cover Image Credit: QNA

Source: Gulf Times