The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (based in Doha) today organized a conference under the title "The Right to Health".

The conference shed light on the roles of stakeholders from governmental, semi-governmental and civil society institutions in promoting this right, identifying best practices and exchanging best experiences, and devoting and encouraging cooperation in promoting the right to health in the State of Qatar.

In his opening speech, HE Vice Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari said that this year marks the celebration of the Arab Human Rights Day and thirteen years since the entry into force of the (Arab Charter on Human Rights) as a legal reference and pivotal instrument in the Arab human rights system, and a document that consolidates the national identity of Arab countries and the spirit of belonging to the Arab civilization with noble human values.

His Excellency added that the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus as a global pandemic more than one year ago, and the number of deaths reached more than 2.5 million people. This made the Arab Human Rights Day slogan "The Right to Health" as an authentic human rights principle, he said, stressing that it is in line with the current pandemic situation, as it still casts its shadow over all countries at a time when developing the vaccine and making it available to all constitutes a glimmer of hope for a complete, safe and rapid recovery from the effects of the virus.

For his part, the Executive Director of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions Sultan Hassan Al Jamali said that national institutions have an important role in promoting and protecting this right and monitoring the violations and this is based on its wide mandate, capabilities and experiences in promoting human rights in their countries, emphasizing the pivotal role that national institutions have played during the pandemic and up to now, by reviewing the reports of national institutions that reached the secretariat of the Arab Network in Doha, about their efforts to protect human rights during the Coronavirus pandemic.

For her part, the Medical Director of the Communicable Diseases Center at the Hamad Medical Corporation Dr. Muna Al Maslamani explained the State of Qatar's measures to implement the right to health during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Al Maslamani said, since the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus as a global pandemic, the State of Qatar has dealt with the pandemic as one of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the modern era.

She noted that the State of Qatar considered in its procedures basic requirements that take into account the principles of the right to health.

She added that, in front of such a pandemic the medical teams, had to direct its energies towards several goals at one time, including thinking about securing immediate and effective treatment methods that would reduce the severity of the disease for the infected, in addition to thinking about all preventive measures to reduce disease transmission among members of society, in addition to ensuring integrated health care for everyone.

(QNA)