ABU DHABI, UAE — Since COVID-19’s start, the world’s attention has been focused on cities that have proven resilient against such global epidemics.
Well, Yes Covid-19 became an index on how to measure the resiliency of any nation since the pandemic affected not only the health of people but also the economic and social status of many countries.
Abu Dhabi was again named the world’s top pandemic-resilient city in 2022 in appreciation of its sophisticated and robust healthcare infrastructure, commitment, and leadership, according to Deep Knowledge Analytics (DKA), a London-based DeepTech analytical subsidiary of Deep Knowledge Group.
The award recognizes the emirate’s thorough, effective, and prompt COVID-19 pandemic response, which established Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector as a regional and international example.
In a similar assessment released by DKA in the first half of 2021, Abu Dhabi was also named the leading city in the world in response to COVID-19. Since then, an additional 28 locations have been investigated and included in the ranking, including 100 cities.
Why is Abu Dhabi unique?
Abu Dhabi ensured business continuity without closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, so its economic development continued.
Medically, the emirate erected 27 drive-through testing and vaccination centers and made more than 500,000 COVID-19 tests daily, with approximately 100 percent of the community obtaining the COVID-19 vaccination.
Moreover, Abu Dhabi increased its healthcare capacity by 200 percent in-hospital patient beds and 300 percent in intensive care beds.
At the same time, the emirate continues to deliver cutting-edge creative therapies to protect the community’s health and safety.
Globally, Abu Dhabi is a leader in the global effort to combat the pandemic, as evidenced by its participation in clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutic innovations. Furthermore, Abu Dhabi has contributed in accelerating the pace of vaccine and medicine development and distribution around the world.
Abu Dhabi successfully exploited its superior geographical location and advanced healthcare infrastructure to build the HOPE Consortium, a one-of-a-kind pharma corridor. The Abu Dhabi-led public-private cooperation contributed to the global fight to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by distributing over 260 million vaccine doses to over 60 countries worldwide. The Emirate’s COVID-19 testing capabilities are also used to aid several countries in their epidemiological investigations.
UAE health efforts
The UAE is at the forefront of worldwide efforts to control the spread of epidemics. It is one of the most vocal advocates of international efforts to tackle several epidemic diseases that seriously threaten human safety.
The UAE’s humanitarian actions and financial donations have been critical in developing health and treatment programs, organizing vaccination campaigns, and delivering vaccinations against several epidemic diseases worldwide, including malaria, cholera, Guinea worm, and polio.
The crisis caused by the spread of the new Coronavirus reaffirmed the UAE’s active role in strengthening international efforts to combat epidemic diseases. The UAE provided urgent humanitarian and medical assistance to approximately 100 countries.
The UAE was at the forefront of countries supporting humanitarian initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the total number of medical aid, respiratory devices, examination devices, and personal protection equipment supplies until July 2021 were more than 2,154 tons and were directed to 135 countries around the world.
A total of 196 medical aid trips were sent, and six field hospitals were established in Sudan, Guinea, Conakry, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, and Jordan. At the same time, a mobile clinic was equipped in Turkmenistan. In addition, UAE sent aid from Dubai’s International Humanitarian City to various countries.