Coronavirus: Sheikha Fatima calls on mothers to lead the way in fight to contain Covid-19

UAE's Mother of the Nation believes mothers have a 'huge responsibility' to ensure households adhere to precautionary measures

A commuter wears a protective mask near the Sharaf DG metro station in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, said mothers carry an "enormous responsibility" to hold families together and support the UAE's efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe.

Sheikha Fatima, chairwoman of the General Women's Union and president of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, said it was vital that mothers ensure their households adhere to precautionary measures being implemented across the country to limit infection rates from Covid-19.

The UAE has tested more than 127,000 people for the virus, temporarily closed schools, universities and entertainment venues and put in place travel restrictions as part of efforts to contain the disease.

As of Saturday, the UAE had recorded 140 positive tests for coronavirus, including two deaths.

Sheikha Fatima, referred to as the UAE's Mother of the Nation, said mothers are viewed as the "cornerstone of human society" by the country's leaders.

"God Almighty provides mothers with immeasurable fortitude, kindness and mercy that enable them to survive hardships, and raise their kids on a sound ethical basis," she said in an address to mark Mother's Day.

"And under the tough circumstances the world is going through due to the Covid-19 outbreak, an enormous responsibility rests on mothers to protect their families under such challenging circumstances and get them to comply with the precautionary and preventive measures taken by world governments to survive the impact of this pandemic."

Sheikh Fatima said Emirati women are being tasked with grooming the next generation and ensuring they are capable of spearheading the country's ambitious development drive for years to come.

Sheikha Fatima reaffirmed calls from UAE leaders to give particular care to the health needs of older members of the community and to limit their presence in crowded places.

Sheikha Fatima expressed her hope that mothers in all corners of the country can meet the lofty demands placed on them during difficult times both nationally and internationally.

"On the occasion of the Mother's Day, we extol the mothers of our martyrs and tell them that you all have instilled in our society noble humanitarian value of sacrifices, determination and fortitude,' said Sheikha Fatima.

"And while observing this occasion in and out of the country, we congratulate all women of the world on their ability to survive hardships and challenges in their quest to provide generations of young leaders capable of spearheading the development drive in their nation."