Global Slick

Abu Dhabi is starting off a new study to determine the immunity of its residents to coronavirus. In this first of its kind initiative by the Department of Health (DoH), the study aims to collect the data that will be used for future studies. In an effort to control the spread of coronavirus and diminish the effects of the pandemic, the study will be focusing on the characteristics of how the pandemic has been moulded in a pattern and will break down the focal points. This will be carried out by taking random samples from across the emirate, the study aims to learn more about Covid-19 immunity and how the virus affected people in Abu Dhabi. The results will be used to inform policies to curb the spread of the coronavirus, reports the National. It will involve people from various regions to identify the percentage of people who are infected and also this will help determine the science behind people who are testing positive but show no symptoms of Covid. According to the Gulf ne...

The United Arab Emirates has successfully inaugurated the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant programme, AD-BMT after Abu Dhabi stem cell centre (ADSCC) conducted its first-ever bone marrow transplant today. Until now, Emirati citizens were looking for a medical facility outside the country to treat cancer which requires using cell therapy and regenerative medicines even though cancer causes third highest numbers of deaths in the country. Bone marrow transplant is used to treat patients with hematological and oncological illnesses and it was performed on a patient with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Now thanks to the collaboration between ADSCC and Sheikh Khalifa Medical city, cancer patients in the UAE can seek treatment closer to their home and receive support and care from their family members as well. This treatment procedure developed by the ADSCC is one the unique ones that involves harvesting peripheral blood stem cells from the patient and then the patient goes ...

The United Arab Emirates has announced that there will be a compulsory PCR test for all those who are travelling via airports including citizens, residents, tourists and transit passengers, regardless of the country they are flying in from. In this effort to combat coronavirus, the PCR test will be made mandatory in all the airports of the UAE from the start of next month. In case of travellers flying from the country, especially the European Union, Britain, will be required to take the PCR examination before they board the plane. Children under 12 and children of determination are exempted from the laboratory test that is valid for 96 hours from the date of the test. The National Authority for Emergency and Crisis and Disaster Management and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation have concluded on this decision to limit the spread of COVID among people. As reported by the Khaleej Times, these are the guidelines to follow- 1.      All P...

There is a lot that goes into fighting this never ending battle against something as dangerous as coronavirus. It is the severity of the disease that is disastrous but the very nature of it. This scale of global pandemic not only requires a lot of attention and effort but a lot of resources as well. Unfortunately, not every country has the resources to fight this battle. The United Arab Emirates has stood by each country that wanted its help even without asking for it. The UAE is not only doing well for itself in terms of handling the spread of coronavirus but it is also making sure that the world does not suffer much hence their share of humanity is unparalleled. It was first announced in April that the UAE will donate coronavirus test kits to the United States. It was added to the effort of the US when they opened one of the largest mass testing units in Las Vegas when the UAE donated 2,00,000 test kits. Not only this but the arab nation has also donated $10 million worth of te...

Three countries--China, the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates---have been attempting to draw a road map to Mars for quite some time now and all the three countries will look to attain their goals this summer when Mars will be closest to the Earth. The UAE being the first one to do that, hopes to send a satellite to Mars in the coming days to study its weather and climate. Hope--1.3-tonne probe is one of three missions launching to Mars this month. The US and China both have surface rovers in the late stages of preparation. After postponing the July 15 launch this week due to bad weather conditions, the spacecraft is ready to take off from Japan towards the end of this week. If this happens, it will make history as the Arab world's first interplanetary mission. "This is the golden age of space in the UAE," explained Fatma Hussain Lootah, manager of the team's instrument science section. "This is the time we decided to stand out in maybe a...

Abu Dhabi develops a laser-based test for people crossing or entering the border to avoid delays. People who will test negative on the laser-based equipment will be allowed to enter the border. Abu Dhabi-based facility, QuantLase Imaging Lab, has developed this rapid screening technology that will involve less time for the travellers, especially the ones in hurry. “Travellers to the emirate of Abu Dhabi can be screened for COVID-19 upon entry by a laser-based DPI technique. A negative result will allow entry to Abu Dhabi, while a positive result will lead to further testing through a PCR test,” the Abu Dhabi Media office announced today. In case of testing positive on the machine, there will be a PCR test after which the traveller will have to head back to their resident and wait for the result to come and if it results negative, then only the traveller is allowed to enter Abu Dhabi premises. The test has also been adopted by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. This test...

These are early days to pass on any judgement on how a country has fared in the parameter of dealing with a pandemic as big as COVID-19 but the job done by the United Arab Emirates is quite commendable. In the month of June, the curve of the contraction of virus flattened only to have elevated again towards the end of the month. Still the spread has been controlled to a lot of extent due to immediate and urgent steps that were taken by the UAE government. Even as tourism and public outings are starting in the UAE, the country is very cautious of anyone suspicious to slide down. But we have given praise where it is due which is all the seven emirates carefully handling the virus situation, especially Abu Dhabi which had decided to extend the weeklong National Screening Programme by another seven days in the month of June. And even other emirates have taken steps that will definitely boost the confidence of civilians in fighting this battle against coronavirus. For instanc...