At the beginning of last year, as the danger of Covid-19 dawned on the world, people rallied around frontline health workers, whose hard work offered us a rare glimmer of hope in desperate times. We cheered them on during weekly applause, donated to charities that supported them and even named pop-up facilities in honour of medical pioneers. These actions were largely symbolic, often emotional gestures of gratitude for the sacrifices they were making.
Society's thanks is important. But it is not enough to physically protect those who keep us safe. For that, medical staff need proactive government support.
The UAE, as with much of its Covid-19 response, has done better than most other developed nations. Friday's news that health workers in Dubai would now be receiving their second and final doses of the Pfizer vaccine is the latest success in protecting the nation's medical staff. It is an achievement that represents a vote of thanks in the their hard work. Frontline health workers can now continue their mission, with a far greater degree of safety. This comes on top of other good news. On January 10, the UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority announced that all medical staff in the country had received the first dose of vaccines.
On a more general level, 133,253 people were vaccinated between last Wednesday and Thursday, meaning that the local distribution rate of doses in the country has now risen to 15.45 for every 100 people.
Effective government planning and the logistical success of the vaccine rollout have made this possible, as well as the continued efforts of the nation's health workers, be they doctors, nurses, volunteers, administrators, receptionists or the hospital porters who makeup the complex patchwork of the country's medical sector.
With more frontline workers now on the cusp of being fully inoculated with both doses, healthcare professionals, with confidence in their safety, can push on in the next stage of the the country's vaccination programme: inoculating enough people to achieve herd immunity. The WHO has said that global resistance to the virus will not be possible by the end of the year. But in the UAE, as The National wrote last week, it is still achievable.
There is a chance that the UAE could reach herd immunity sooner than the rest of the world. EPA
Medics have worked round the clock, enduring the mental strain of comforting the seriously ill and the dying
Medical staff have born a heavy burden during the pandemic. They have worked round the clock, enduring the mental strain of comforting the seriously ill and the dying. Some frontline staff have even lost their lives. The rare occasions of this ultimate sacrifice have been honoured at the highest levels of government. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has personally called families of fallen healthcare workers. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, honoured them during last year's Commemoration Day.
Not all of us can thank these heroes at public ceremonies. But we can do so by sticking to hygiene guidelines and getting vaccinated.
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
