The sons of
frontline healthcare professionals in the United Arab Emirates are saving tens
of thousands of dirhams a year on school fees, thanks to scholarships across
the country’s public schools. In early September, the UAE launched a new
initiative, called “Hayyakum,” aiming to remove some of the financial burden
experienced by many frontline healthcare professionals and encourage them to
keep their jobs. Around 1,850 children have already received the scholarships,
which cover the costs of tuition, transportation, and laptops. According to The
National, almost 2,000 medics treating Covid-19 patients have enrolled in the
Hayyakum program.
Dr Abeer
Darwish, a Syrian paediatrician at Mediclinic Al Mussaffah in Abu Dhabi, looked
after kids with COVID-19 while also carrying out her daily responsibilities. Two
of her five children, Rand, 8, and Raghad, 12, are enrolled under the
initiative and have initiated studies at Maryam Bin Omran School and Madinat
Baniyas School in grades 3 and 7, respectively. According to The National
newspaper, she is saving today Dh40,000 yearly, which is a big amount in the
Emirates.
“We, at the
Frontline Heroes Office, hope to provide the same level of support and
compassion that those on the frontline have provided to millions of people
across our nation,” Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al-Nahyan, Chairman of the Board
of the Frontline Heroes Office, previously said. The Frontline Heroes Office is
an organization set in July 2020 to support medical and healthcare, fighting on
the UAE’s frontline against the new coronavirus. “We wish their children every
success as they embark upon a new school year, and we look forward to watching
them follow in their parents’ footsteps to become outstanding members of
society,” Al-Nahyan continued.
The
scholarships will cover the cost of tuition, laptops, and transportation for
schoolchildren until they graduate from high school. The program includes
learning only in public schools. Between school fees, house rent, and other
bills, outcomes often pass what two doctors can afford. The UAE’s Education
Minister, Hussain bin Ibrahim Al-Hammadi, described the grant as a real example
of community solidarity. “The Ministry of Education seeks to directly provide
educational support for the children of frontline healthcare professionals so
they can continue their invaluable and noble work,” he said announcing the Hayyakum
program.
Not only
solidarity, but also a big thank you from the Emirati leadership and community
to doctors and nurses who risked their lives for everyone's health. It is good
to remember that the UAE is the country that has conducted more tests in the
region and the world, as well as successfully tested innovative treatments and
protocols followed today all over the world. The COVID-19 vaccine presented
last month has entered its final testing phase.
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