Coronavirus: UAE volunteer campaign calls for more recruits to tackle Covid-19

Field placements and virtual volunteering options under national initiative

Volunteers can play their part in helping the UAE contain the spread of Covid-19. Courtesy: AFP

New recruits are needed to help build an army of volunteers to lead the national fight against coronavirus.

Doctors, nurses, paramedics, physicians and psychologists are being urged to enlist for the effort to combat the spread of Covid-19.

The UAE volunteers campaign is also calling for retired medical personnel and those with a certificate in first aid or emergency response to bolster the health sector in its hour of need.

Placements are available at national screening centres, call centres, field hospitals, airports, entry points and medical testing.

The initiative is part of the new Higher National Committee for Regulating Volunteering during Crisis, set up last week by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Remote volunteer opportunities are also available to anyone aged 14 or above in the Support an Organisation category.

Those who have specialist expertise or skills are invited to provide online courses and workshops in areas such as sports, arts, languages, health or how to prevent the coronavirus spread.

Mental health professionals who have experience with senior citizens are being urged to take part.

Volunteering for a call centre is also an option, with priority given to customer service workers and those who speak more than one languages.

Residents who are interested in volunteering can do so on the campaign’s platform, volunteers.ae.

Several volunteering opportunities are available to UAE residents. Courtesy: Ministry of Community Development

“Volunteers are capable of playing a role no less important than the pivotal role played by medical and health teams in the field during these times, under the umbrella of a proper support and follow-up system to achieve optimal results,” said Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.

Residents with a background in medical practice have been urged to register as volunteers to help the UAE government tackle the pandemic.

People with experience working in healthcare centres can upload their details on the volunteers.ae portal.

So far, more than 1,000 people have signed up to help and are working in hospitals, quarantine zones and hotels across the UAE.

Training has been provided by Sanid, an Emirates Foundation programme.