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The three-day World Innovation Summit for Health ( WISH) 2022 conference held under the theme "Healing The Future" started Tuesday at Multaqa in the Education City. Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation opened the summit. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, speaking at the opening ceremony. (supplied picture) The opening ceremony was attended by Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania; Jeannette Kagame, First Lady of Rwanda; Dr Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, a number of their excellencies, Sheikhs, ministers, policy makers, scholars and specialists from around the world. “WISH has always been a summit of big ideas. This year our themes are many, with one overarching goal – a search for solutions to enable all of us to live balanced, safe and healthy lives,” said Sheikha Moza in her opening remarks. Another panel discussion on day one of WISH 2022. Prof Lord Darzi of Denham, executive chair of WISH said: “This has been WISH’s mission from the start: to bring people together to develop, to promote, disseminate innovations that can really transform the world. Over the next three days, it is my hope that we can learn together, inspire each other to achieve our shared ambitions. We can show the world how, in place of discord and division, collaboration and cooperation can help us meet the challenges we face. With the power of the WISH community, we can promote better health for everyone and broaden access to high quality care for all. This is what we mean by healing the future.” Keynote speaker, Dr Noubar Afeyan The audience also heard from Tanzanian President Hassan who recognised the key role WISH has had by contributing immensely to the literature on health issues and on influencing governmental policies aiming to achieve universal healthcare. She noted: “The interest of WISH of having a fair, equitable, and healthy world is clearly reflected by the range of experts gathered here today. I’m witnessing firsthand the enthusiasm of key global players in the health sector to drive efforts to promote healthier and equitable access to health services in order to achieve sustainable development. Certainly, today's conference is a state in the right direction and I'm in full support of it." HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Qatar's Minister of Public Health; Dr Ahmed al-Mandhari, regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean of the World Health Organisation and ministerial delegations from 16 countries were also present, including those from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Prof Lord Darzi of Denham addressing the gathering. The keynote speaker at the opening ceremony, Dr Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, and co-founder of Moderna, the American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company that developed a key vaccine for Covid-19 said: “The efforts of all of us in this room to advance human health are taking place against the backdrop of what we call a Health Care System, but in reality is a Sick Care System. We spend an enormous amount of time, effort, and money treating people once they are sick, rather than trying to keep them healthy. “By waiting for disease to manifest, costs are higher, preventing many from accessing care and outcomes are worse. Early detection that preempts disease or reverses or manages a pre-disease condition could offer a solution to health care inequities. We call this preemptive health: the application of leading-edge biological sciences and digital technology to traditional public health goals.” Speaking in the context of the creation of Moderna’s safe and highly effective Covid-19 vaccine, he emphasised the role of innovation and imagination in creating breakthrough leaps in biotechnology, and examined the pathway to preventing and preempting disease before it takes hold of. The opening ceremony concluded with an expert panel discussion on building the resilience of global health systems. The discussion was underpinned by an evidence-based policy report launched shortly before the summit titled “Building Health System Resilience; a roadmap for navigating future pandemics”. Day one of WISH also hosted a forum discussion based on the WISH 2022 report titled “A new era for vaccine innovation: Harnessing the lessons learned from Covid-19 Vaccine”. Expert speakers included Dr Jerome Kim, director general, International Vaccine Institute, and Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford and co-developer of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

The Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari highlighted Qatar’s efforts as well as the measures adopted by the country in overcoming the challenges posed by Covid-19, at the opening day of World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2022. “When the health systems are overwhelmed, the whole world suffers as we have seen during the pandemic. Therefore investing in health systems and building the resilience is not a cost but an assurance,” stressed the minister during a panel discussion at the opening ceremony. According to Dr al-Kuwari, the pandemic was not just a challenge but also an opportunity to test the resilience of the healthcare system and be better positioned and prepared for any pandemic in future. She remarked that Qatar has dealt with Covid-19 pandemic with flexibility and excellently executed its plans, managed to build an information system that is capable of overcoming the emergency cases, provided the essential quarantine spaces and medical families, in addition to building the capacities of the medical practitioners to ensure their physical and psychological integrity. She explained: “Qatar did remarkably well to meet the challenges of the pandemic as our economy remained active, children attended school through online resources and despite high number of transmission of the virus, we had one of the least mortality rates in the world itself.” The minister said that Qatar has several lessons to share with the world. She explained: “We had focused on infrastructure by building a number of healthcare facilities that contributed to our resilience. This helped to face the pandemic and the associated challenges by creating the capacity needed to face the pandemic. We also focused to work together and a resilient health system can’t win without collaboration.” “Everyone in Qatar had equal access to vaccination and other healthcare needs irrespective of social or economic background. Our strong primary healthcare system contributed greatly to the success of the vaccination distribution,” she highlighted. The health minister noted that the training and development of the workforce in the country meant that they were equipped to meet the challenges and helped in overcoming the pandemic effectively. “In Qatar we had benefitted from preparing public health emergencies and national emergencies and that plan has really paid off. The role of healthcare workers was very much instrumental in overcoming the challenges,” added, Dr al-Kuwari.

*First in-person World Innovation Summit for Health since 2018 opens at Multaqa, Education City Sheikha Moza underlines the strong connection that links health and sports Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF) highlighted the need for ‘transformative events to inspire individuals and remind them of the responsibility towards their personal health and their community’ while opening the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2022, Tuesday. “There can be no substitute for the essential work done by the medical practitioners, researchers and doctors who deliver quality healthcare to patients worldwide. Nonetheless, there is room for preventative practices that can take place prior to patients seeing their doctors. We look towards transformative events to inspire individuals and remind them of their responsibility towards their personal health and their community,” stressed Sheikha Moza. Welcoming the delegates to WISH Summit, QF' global healthcare initiative, Sheikha Moza highlighted: “Welcome to the first World Innovation Summit for Health held in-person since 2018. As you well know, in a few weeks’ time, Qatar will also host another international event – the FIFA World Cup. Two core ideas form the strong connection that links our summit to the World Cup: Health and Sports.” “WISH has always been a summit of big ideas. This year our themes are many, with one overarching goal – a search for solutions to enable all of us to live balanced, safe and healthy lives. For instance, how to avoid mental fatigue, burn-out, and unhealthy eating habits. These are fundamental challenges to contemporary society,” explained, Sheikha Moza. “This is where sports and exercise play a huge role, as participation is unlimited by age or class, but open to all. The world of health and fitness is broad, and everyone can find something to suit their interests and capabilities. Sports and fitness can be professions for those with talent, hobbies for those who enjoy them and are necessities for all according to ability,” she continued. The QF chairperson noted that exercise needs to be a fundamental part of people’s lives. Sheikha Moza said: “When we make exercise a fundamental part of our lives and a consistent part in our daily routine, we create space for stability and creativity. We need new and innovative ways to encourage patients to become active participants in the healthcare process so that they become our partners in building an effective and robust global healthcare system.” “We can do this by making basic information on health and fitness accessible to everyone – so that while professionals are busy researching pressing healthcare challenges, individuals play their parts by exercising. This may seem obvious, but underscoring the importance of exercise and sport really is at the heart of achieving healthy living for individuals, communities and the world,” pointed out, Sheikha Moza. “Big sporting events always have been a source of inspiration, motivating Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup, breathing new life into our country. Events such as these can inspire us all, here in Qatar and across the world, to re-build our healthcare systems, making them robust and accessible to all,” Sheikha Moza added.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be the most accessible tournament in the history of the game, which could be a major legacy of the event, a renowned speaker and disability rights expert Dr Victor Pineda told an audience at a Qatar Foundation (QF) Education City Speaker Series Monday. “I hope that the momentum generated around accessibility will live on beyond the World Cup and that all the work done on accessibility will be disseminated to every school, to every place of employment, and to every public space, so persons with disabilities can continue to benefit from it,” the president and founder of the Pineda Foundation and World Enabled stated during the event at Qatar National Library Monday. Dr Victor Pineda highlights the need for accessibility. In conversation with Luisa Baldini, a former BBC correspondent, Dr Pineda spoke on the topic 'Recognising a Right: Why We Need to Build an Accessible World.' The talk, organised in collaboration with the World Innovation Summit for Health, QF’s global healthcare initiative, explored the challenges that people with disabilities continue to face, how they can be overcome, and why shaping a truly accessible world is everyone’s responsibility. “If people are still just thinking of elevators and ramps when they hear accessibility, then they are missing the entire conversation. We're talking about innovation, transformation, and building a future where all people can express their full potential,” said, Dr Pineda. A frequent visitor to Qatar, Dr Pineda noted that he has seen the country drastically change as it has prepared to host the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. He highlighted the need for increased advocacy, saying: “Advocacy isn’t just a destination, it's a way of thinking and opening the door for discussion and debate, recognising the dreams, hopes, frustrations, and barriers of persons with disabilities. “We can’t stop there, we need to go beyond just inspiring people to advocate for change, but also equipping them with the appropriate tools and expertise to bring about change.” According to Dr Pineda, the only way to succeed in creating truly accessible and inclusive spaces is to have an integrated cross-sectoral approach to identifying and eliminating barriers and looking at those barriers in a holistic way. “Think beyond ramps and look at innovation – think about tech and digital accessibility – which is a disruptive force to unlocking new capabilities in the public, private, and education sector.” He highlighted that by being digitally accessible, organisations can future proof their digital infrastructure. “If we do it right, technology can unlock potential and elevate the voices and aspirations of those that are most marginalised.” Dr Pineda also stressed the need to involve more people with disabilities in the innovation sphere. “Persons with disabilities make up 15% of the global population, but less than 1% of venture capital investments go to founders of enterprises that are people with disabilities. There is a huge investment gap when it comes to innovation for and by persons with disabilities.” Dr Pineda appealed the organisations and policymakers to approach the topic of accessibility and inclusion from a place of curiosity and openness. “Understand how this fits into your existing plans. Don't think about it just for diversity and inclusion, think about it as innovation and transformation, and an exciting way to unlock potential within your organisation.” He called on organisations, particularly HR departments, to actively create a barrier free environment for people with disabilities and to bring in trusted partners to help develop a bigger narrative, not just about specialised services, but about what it means to have an inclusive workplace. “The way an organisation hires directly indicates what it values, so make sure to build accessibility into it,” he noted. Commenting on inclusion and accessibility in education and the active role of teachers in it, he asked teachers to approach the space with humility. “Believe the parents. Believe the child. They are not lying about disability. Be open to the possibility of changing the curriculum, to the possibility of adjusting, and to the possibility of learning something from the students and the parents. Open yourself up to new discoveries,” he added.

The ‘World of Football’ exhibition at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum highlights several milestones from previous editions of the World Cup and features some of the major attractions of the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The details and highlights of the exhibition were disclosed Sunday at a press briefing at the museum attended by director Abdulla al-Mulla, acting head of exhibitions Aalia Khalid al-Khater, main sponsor ExxonMobil Qatar's vice president and government affairs director Saleh al-Mana, and sports heritage consultant and exhibition curator Andrew Pearce. Exhibits including Diego Maradona's boots (left). The exhibition which runs until April 1, 2023 features some special items from the football world over the years. They include a football used in the finals of the first World Cup tournament in 1930; the first written account of the rules of football, determining how the sport is played; Pele’s Santos shirt from 1973, the year he came to play in Doha; and jerseys worn by some of the sport’s all-time greats. Among the exhibition highlights is the jersey worn by Argentine great, Diego Maradona described by many players as ‘the greatest player of all time’ when he scored twice to give Argentina a 2-1 lead against England in the quarter finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The jersey is on loan to the exhibition after being sold at auction in May 2022, when it became the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever purchased. Scarves of participating teams in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 seen displayed in the museum. PICTURES: Thajudheen. The president of 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla al-Thani, said: “Our exhibition will provide a unique experience for visitors of all ages and backgrounds and will not be only limited to football fans. It will also showcase how inclusivity in any sport plays a pivotal role in bringing people together and bridging gaps.” The exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the beginnings and history of football and the origins of the FIFA World Cup, underscoring the sport’s ability to transcend borders and cultures and bring people together. The exhibition opens as part of Qatar Creates, the year-round national cultural movement that curates, promotes, and celebrates the diversity of cultural activities in Qatar. Al-Mulla said: “Football is the most followed sport globally, and this exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to learn how sports, especially football, play a pivotal role in bringing people from diverse backgrounds together. In addition, World of Football will illustrate how the sport has a very special significance in Qatar, and how impactful it is for Qatar to host the World Cup, both locally and throughout the region.” Al-Khater noted that it was the most fitting time to hold such an exhibition. “This is our first exhibition in the museum and it is quite satisfying that we hold an exhibition within such a short span of time since its opening. It is a fitting time to host such an exhibition as we are hosting the World Cup next month. We have had the amazing opportunity to partner and work with many international museums and make this exhibition happen.” The objects, films, and images featured in the exhibition come from a variety of local and international organisations as well as loans from private collectors. Alongside items from 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum’s own football collection, significant items from major international partner museums including the National Football Museum in the UK, the FIFA Museum, and the the Musée du Sport in France demonstrate the global influence of the game. Al-Mana said ExxonMobil is excited to grow its strong and unique relationship with Qatar Museums as the main sponsor of the World of Football, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. "We are delighted and proud to be playing our part as an active community member by joining local efforts to ensure its success through partnerships such as this one that supports important activities,” he explained. Curator Pearce pointed out that the exhibition tells a story that even started before the first World Cup in 1930. "It tells when in 1860s when the first laws of football were written. We are very privileged to have one of the those manuscripts.”

The 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum has already reached the milestone of 100,000 visitors by Sunday and expects to have 500,000 visitors by the end of this year. “As of today we have reached 100,000 visitors since His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamd al-Thani opened it on March 30, 2022 ,” museum director Abdulla al-Mulla told a press conference held to announce the details of ‘World of Football’ exhibition. “Any Sports museum is an extra special spot and considering all the fans that are coming from around the world to attend the World Cup 2022, we expect the number of visitors to reach 500,000 by the year end,” noted, Aalia Khalid al-Khater, acting head of exhibitions at the museum. Al-Khater continued: “This is our first exhibition in the museum and it is quite satisfying that we hold an exhibition within such a short span of time since our opening. It is a fitting time to host such an exhibition as we are hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 from next month. We have had the amazing opportunity to partner and work with many international museums and make this exhibition happen. The last part of the exhibition highlights this year’s World Cup and therefore we have many more materials to be added to the exhibition from this year’s World Cup." “Over 200 items are displayed at the exhibition. Some of the permanent collections of the museum is on display. The balls from each match from the quarter finals of 2022 will also be added to the exhibition,” she added. According to Andrew Pearce, the curator of the exhibition, it tells a story that even started before the first World Cup in 1930. “It tells about 1860s when the first laws of football were written. We are very privileged to have one of the those manuscripts. Our story starts there and it travels through all the World Cups until 2018 and then we followed the road to Doha. We speak about Qatar’s football history, all the World Cup stadiums in the country and we take the journey to the future and how Qatar is using football for social change,” said Pearce. Taking inspiration from the structure of a typical football match, the exhibition is presented in two halves. The first – Football for All, All for Football – examines the universal and global appeal of football. The second – The Road to Doha – takes the visitor from the first FIFA Men’s World Cup matches in Uruguay in 1930 to the final in this year’s tournament at the Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022. The “extra time” section, History in the Making, will expand throughout the duration of the World Cup, as items from the tournament such as footballs, shoes, scarves, tickets, posters, official merchandise, and other objects, are added to commemorate events that make history in Qatar.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) will host the 9th edition of the GCC Sports Tournament for Universities and Higher Education Institutes from February 4-10, 2023. “We expect about 1,000 students from over 20 national institutes in the GCC to take part in the tournament,” Noor al-Jassim, development director and tournament committee vice president, told a press conference yesterday. Qatar is organising the event for the second time as Qatar University hosted it several years ago, she pointed out. Dr Maryam bint Hamad al-Mannai, vice president of Student Affairs at HBKU; Mohammed bin Hamad Altuwaijry, head of higher education at the Secretariat General of the GCC and Faisal al-Mohannadi, senior student engagement supervisor and manager of the tournament, were also present. Al-Jassim explained: “The tournament will bring together students to compete in six sports events: football on grass courts, volleyball, table tennis, padel, athletics, and swimming. Most of the games will be conducted at the facilities at Aspire Zone and Education City. Students will also have practice games at Education City.” HBKU was selected to host the tournament by the Committee of Deans of Student Affairs for Universities in the Arab Gulf during its 32nd meeting, held in Oman in February 2022, under the umbrella of the Secretariat General of the Gulf Co-operation Council, and with 37 GCC universities and educational institutes attending. Dr al-Mannai said: “The 9th Sports Tournament for GCC Universities and Higher Education Institutes constitutes the second most prominent sporting event for GCC countries. The facilities will be fully devoted to organising this tournament at the highest level that befits the distinguished international sporting reputation enjoyed by Qatar.” The tournament’s supervisory committee conducted a preparatory meeting at HBKU Wednesday and discussed plans and latest preparations. The official logo of the tournament was launched on the occasion. Dr al-Mannai explained that the logo was chosen following a contest open to students from across Education City. The logo aligns with that of the Secretariat General of the GCC Countries and refers to the strong co-operation ties between the countries. The logo includes the map of the GCC region, the number of the coming edition, and a running track. Al-Mohannadi, noted: “ This sports tournament has always been of paramount importance because of its positive and tangible impact that directly reflects the depth of the relationship between the people of the GCC. From this standpoint, HBKU will ensure that the next edition will constitute a milestone in the history of student sports in GCC countries.” “We conducted multiple meetings during which we discussed the plan of the tournament, approved its logo, the time of holding it, and the proposed games. The committee has also agreed to raise the age ceiling for participants as HBKU is a university that offers higher studies programmes,” added, Altuwaijry.

QNB announced at a special ceremony yesterday that Internet sensation, Khabane ‘Khaby’ Lame, the world’s most followed person on TikTok with over 150mn followers, will be the bank’s Official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Brand Ambassador. As part of the partnership, QNB also screened Lame’s first-ever television commercial (TVC) with QNB Group at the official signing ceremony. The TVC explores the theme of ‘dreaming big’ – underpinning the ethos of QNB Group’s role in this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament. Ali Rashid al-Mohannadi, QNB group executive general manager and group chief operating officer and Heba Ali al-Tamimi, QNB Group general manager, Group Communications were present on the occasion.   The event at the Novo Cinema of The Mall of Qatar was attended by a number of special invitees. The partnership will build on QNB Group’s role as the Official Middle East and Africa Supporter and Official Qatari Bank of the tournament. Al-Tamimi said: “Choosing Khaby Lame as QNB’s ambassador during the tournament, reflects the boundless ambition of Qatar by hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. By following his dreams, Lame, much like Qatar, has achieved his goals. We are celebrating together a world where everything is possible. As Qatar prepares to welcome millions of football fans this winter, we can certainly be proud of what we have achieved, both as a bank and as a country.” “I am happy to be QNB’s ambassador during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. I believe that I am very similar to QNB, I set my dreams and achieve the impossible. I look forward to explore the tournament through QNB’s lens and to make unforgettable memories,” Lame noted. QNB Group is the Official Middle East and Africa Supporter of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. As part of its role, QNB will be granted various assets and rights across the region, as well as branding exposure in the Host Cities. The group has an extensive network of ATMs and locations, and will be the sole provider of on-site ATMs at all eight FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums.

About 100,000 American football fans are expected to visit Qatar during the FIFA World Cup 2022, revealed the new US ambassador Timmy T Davis Monday and highlighted that Qatar–US relationship is growing from strength to strength. “Our estimates are approaching about some 100,000 American fans or either side of the figure who are expected to visit Qatar during the World Cup. Before they come, we will provide them all the necessary information and all the assistance needed while they are here,” he said in reply to a question from 'Gulf Times' at a media round table at his residence. “We are excited about Qatar hosting the World Cup. The US is part of the next edition of the World Cup and our hope is to learn from Qatar the entire lessons of a successful World Cup. I am convinced that Qatar will host a World Cup that will be a model for major international sports events. I am reassuring all Americans that coming to Qatar will be a once-in-a-life time experience,” said the ambassador. The US envoy said that the relationship with Qatar has been growing well in the recent years. "Fifty years of diplomatic ties with Qatar is very significant. Fifty years is 20% of our existence as a nation. As we celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, it means for a good part of our existence, Qatar has been a good friend of the US.” “The country's role as a leader in the region is emphasised through our designation of Qatar as a Major Non-Nato Alley. We see this relationship as one that has room for growth. Qatar has been a partner with us in many of the major issues we face in the region and most importantly in the recent relocation of people in need in Afghanistan. Qatar was the leader in the initiative to ensure that those who were relocated had a place to go and those people in need-children, women among others- were given shelter here in Qatar,” the envoy explained. Ambassador Davis observed that the US relation with Qatar is based on a number of pillars. “One is education as is reflected in the number of US universities in the Education City and our desire to have more number of Qatari students come to the US. In commerce, the number of American companies doing business in Qatar and with Qatari companies is vast and growing and it is not just in energy sector. We are working to help realise Qatar’s goal of becoming a knowledge based economy. One thing that we hope is that the US-Qatar relationship is a model for the rest of the region and the world,” he highlighted. The envoy also noted that the US holds strategic dialogue with Qatar and it ranges from security to humanitarian assistance to labour and human rights among others. “We do it every year with the government of Qatar to make sure that we are speaking to each other clearly and plainly and finding places where we can cooperate for the betterment of our relationship and the betterment of the globe,” he said. Ambassador Davis also noted that it is important for the US that Qataris, particularly Qatari students travel to the US. “We understand that due to the pandemic and difficulties in consular works in the last couple of years, some of the wait time to get visa to the US is extended. We are aware of it and are working on it very hard,” the envoy told the media. The US envoy pointed that Qatar is also one of the best security partners of the US in the world. “Our airbase is here and it has hosted thousands of US personnel. It acts as a clear signal of our friendship and shared goals of stability regionally and globally,” he added.

  * SC signs MoU with Concordia to raise awareness of Qatar 2022 legacy projects Legacy has been a key element that Qatar has been focusing on, right from the beginning of the preparations of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, noted a top official of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) at an international event in New York. “From day one, legacy was at the forefront of our plans. Right from the bidding stage, every single project, every single penny spent in terms of infrastructure and other things was designed with legacy in mind,” said HE Hassan al-Thawadi, Secretary-General, SC. Al-Thawadi was interacting with Reshmin Chowdhury, a sports journalist, at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York on Monday on the topic ‘FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Legacy Initiatives Beyond the Tournament’. As for a question about labour conditions and reforms in the country, al-Thawadi said that hosting the tournament has a transformational power. “It has a lot of impact in accelerating the infrastructure in the country as well as social reforms. The commitment towards labour reforms is embodied in Qatar National Vision 2030. We recognised that the World Cup would provide the momentum or become a vehicle to provide the reforms. We welcomed all the criticism and worked on them. The work that has been done is a benchmark in the region and it showcases that there is a commitment beyond the tournament. These reforms are done in a way that they are sustainable and last beyond 2022.” The official noted that Qatar has already delivered a legacy in labour reforms by setting a global benchmark. “An action that has become a global benchmark is about recruitment fees. We have made all the recruitment firms to reimburse the fees charged from the workers as recruitment fee. The companies volunteered to pay the recruitment fees which is around $28mn and out which $23mn has already been paid,” he highlighted. Al-Thawadi pointed out that legacy on labour reforms has already been delivered and this is something that has been delivered before the tournament and will last beyond the tournament. He said that the World Cup brings people together and celebrates humanity. “Great sporting events in history showcased the best in humanity. These are common opportunities and common celebrations. This is the biggest event in the post-Covid world that people will be able to celebrate together and that is reflected in record number of tickets that have been issued already. We are a hospitable and welcoming region. People might be from different backgrounds but once you reach our region you feel at home, no matter where you are from,” he highlighted. “Everybody is welcome to Qatar. All communities are welcome and we respect all of them and we also request all to respect our culture and values. It is an experience to explore difference and more importantly to celebrate the coming together of humanity. We are ready to welcome the world and we are excited to experience the first World Cup in the Arab World, which will truly be a global event. We are about to make history,” al-Thawadi added. Al-Thawadi highlighted the work of Generation Amazing, which is on track to reach 1mn beneficiaries. “Since its launch, our human and social legacy programme, Generation Amazing, has been successful in using football as a tool to teach youth and other targeted communities important life skills, like teamwork, leadership and inclusion,” he said. The SC’s commitment to drive workers’ welfare reforms and implement behavioural science projects to improve the impact of its programmes was also discussed by al-Thawadi. The SC also participated in other panel sessions during the event. Mahmoud Qutub, executive director of Workers’ Welfare & Labour Rights, took part in ‘The Social and Human Legacy of the World Cup’, while Dr Fadi Makki, director, B4 Development, took part in the ‘Using Behavioural Insights at the World Cup’ session. Generation Amazing discussed the role of women in shaping its programme and took part in the ‘Sports for Development Future’ panel. Generation Amazing also participated in a roundtable discussion co-organised by Laureus Sports for Good titled ‘Sports for Development and Leveraging Sports Mega Events’. Meanwhile, the SC and Concordia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to share expertise and raise awareness of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 legacy projects. Among the legacy programmes that will benefit from the collaboration are Generation Amazing, the B4 Development Foundation and Workers’ Welfare, according to a press statement by the SC. Al-Thawadi said, “We are very pleased to formalise our strong working relationship with Concordia. Over the years, the summit has been an invaluable platform to share the story of Qatar’s FIFA World Cup, which will be a game-changer for our country and region. Over the past decade, our legacy programmes have been busy making a positive impact in Qatar and across the globe. We look forward to working with Concordia as we strive to achieve our legacy goals.” Matthew Swift, co-founder and CEO, Concordia, added: “We are delighted to formalise our partnership with the SC and support Qatar in its efforts to deliver meaningful impact through its various legacy programmes. With only weeks to go until the big kick-off, we are confident this edition of the FIFA World Cup will have a hugely positive impact on Qatar, the Middle East region and globally.”  

After the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the country will be hosting several major events and plans to bid again for the Olympics, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Secretary-General HE Hassan al-Thawadi (pictured) said yesterday. He was speaking at Concordia Annual Summit in New York on the topic ‘FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Legacy Initiatives Beyond the Tournament,’ in an interaction with sports journalist Reshmin Chowdhury. “After 2022, we will be hosting several major sporting events. We will be hosting the 2030 Asian Games and we have expressed interest in hosting the Asian Football Cup 2023. And potentially we are going to be bidding again for the Olympics. Qatar is about to make history by hosting and making the upcoming World Cup a truly global event,” said al-Thawadi. The SC official said that Qatar has already delivered a legacy in labour reforms by setting a global benchmark. “An action that has become a global benchmark is the recruitment fees. We have made all the recruitment firms to reimburse the fees charged from the workers for recruitment. The companies volunteered to pay the recruitment fees  back, which is around $28mn, and out which $23mn has already been paid,” he highlighted. Al-Thawadi also said that after the World Cup, most stadiums will be resized from 40,000 to 20,000 seats. “The biggest one, the Lusail Stadium, will not just remain as a stadium. The inside will be overhauled for another purpose to be announced later. Another stadium, made of containers, will be completed disassembled and will be a great contribution to sustainability and legacy of the tournament as well,” he added.

Qatar residents eligible for breast and bowel cancer screening can self-refer for the same by contacting the dedicated call centre (8001112) of the screening programme, noted an official of the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). “Women aged between 45 to 69 can opt for breast cancer screening while men and women aged between 50 and 74 years are eligible for bowel cancer screening. The procedure, done by the Screen for Life programme of the PHCC, is free of cost," said Hayat Yassine, a subject matter expert at PHCC. Yassine was speaking at a workshop, organised recently by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to raise awareness about cancer and how to protect people from the disease. “There are three methods to go for the screening. Those belonging to the eligible groups, can contact the call centre number, 8001112, and request for an appointment. Similarly, call centre agents would contact the target audience offering screening for the disease. The third option is by reference from a physician. If any doctor is suspicious of any symptoms, he or she can refer the patient for screening,” explained Yassine. The official said that an early detection of the disease can lead to proper and effective treatment and cure the cases completely. According to her, breast and bowel cancers are two of the most common types of the disease but Qatar has put adequate infrastructure in place to help fight the disease. “If detected early, breast cancer can be cured 100% while bowel cancer survival rate is around 90%. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Qatar while bowel cancer is the leading one among male. Breast cancer screening is to be done once in every three years and screening for bowel cancer is to be taken in every two years,” she said. Yassine highlighted that Qatar uses the latest and most advanced methods for the screening and treatment of cancer. She noted that at least two radiologists are mandated to read and interpret the results of each test to ensure its accuracy. The MoPH event, meant for journalists in the country was part of a series of workshops to educate the public about cancer and how to protect oneself from the disease. The ministry has conducted similar workshops for various groups and plans to organise more of them in the near future. “The workshop is an effort to provide the details about the clinical services available to the patients with the latest and most advanced technologies. It also wants to raise awareness about the disease, the importance of getting screened and get protected against the disease,” added Yassine.    

Qatar Cancer Plan (2023-2030), a new initiative that will hopefully enhance the cancer services in the country in a big way, will be launched in January 2023, a top official of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) revealed on Monday. “Qatar Cancer Plan will go up to 2030 in two phases. The first is from 2023 to 2026 and then until 2030,” explained, Amid Abu Hmaidan, acting director of the National Cancer Programme at MoPH. He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a workshop organised by MoPH and Qatar Cancer Society to raise awareness about cancer and various myths and misconceptions associated with the disease. “The plan has six chapters that cover all the pathway for patients. We believe that the new initiative will hopefully enhance the cancer services in the country in a big way. It is already approved by the Minister of Public Health and there will be extensive campaigns when we launch it,” he said. Dr Kholoud al-Muttawaa, head of Non-Communicable Disease Department at MoPH and senior consultant, Community Medicine, said that there will be a series of workshops to educate and raise awareness about cancer among various segments of the community. “This workshop is part of a series for raising awareness about cancer as well as the misconceptions about it. This will also throw light on some of the stigmas prevalent in the communities about cancer,” she said. “We have already conducted some workshops for social workers, healthcare professionals and others. This will continue and we will meet up with other groups and educate them about the disease. This type of workshops will help people get the right channel in seeking medical assistance. We had three workshops already and we aim to have many more,” continued, Dr al-Muttawaa. According to Hmaidan, the increase in the number of cancer cases is not a reflection of the disease in the country. “There are two facts for it. The population is increasing and naturally the number might go up. Again another major factor is the improvements in detecting cancer cases. There were some cancer cases that could not be detected earlier. But now, we are able to detect every cancer case and therefore we have more numbers,” he noted. The official also pointed out that the workshops focus on four aspects about the disease. “We primarily want to set right some of the misconceptions about the disease. We also want to raise awareness about early symptoms of the disease so that patients can seek immediate medical support which will lead to early detection of the disease,” he pointed out. “Other aspect is that we want to establish trust between the patients and healthcare facilities so that they will have no apprehension in approaching the medical centres and seeking assistance and medical care. Lastly, we want to ensure quality of life for the recovered patients. This will help them face any challenges with all the confidence and optimism,” added Hmaidan.    

With a focus on wellness, paperless processing of all records and patients’ access to medical records from anywhere in the world are two key features of the newly opened medical centre, Wellkins Medical Centre, said the chairman of the facility. “We have made sure that all the records, right from registration to doctor prescriptions and other details, are kept in a paperless manner. We have made it a point that the process is fully digitised and our guests can even complete the process of registration from the comfort of their homes,” said Dr Sameer Moopan, chairman and managing director, Wellkins Medical Centre.   Dr Sameer Moopan The facility, which became operational recently, is located on Salwa Road opposite Westin Doha Hotel & Spa. Dr Moopan, with over 20 years of expertise in Qatar alone, has been instrumental in conceiving and developing a chain of clinics, pharmacies and a hospital across the country. Speaking to Gulf Times, Dr Moopan explained: “We are committed to our environmental responsibility and therefore have decided against the use of paper and the facility will be completely paperless in all the processes. We have also made available the option for our patients to access their medical records from anywhere in the world. This is made possible through a software developed in-house.” Wellkins Medical Centre, part of DSM Healthcare and Management Services, currently offers eight departments with two more departments to be added soon in Phase 2 and several more specialties in Phase 3. “We have developed the second floor of the facility with about 600sq m. Currently, there are eight departments – internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, ENT, laboratory, radiology, dental and a general practitioner. We also have a pharmacy available at the facility. We have nine doctors and other paramedical staff,” said Dr Moopan. “Phase 2 is almost ready for inspection by the Ministry of Public Health and we expect it to happen soon. We will add orthopaedics and physiotherapy in Phase 2 in addition to a cosmetology and dermatology department. Phase 3 will be the expansion of ground and mezzanine floors of the building. We will also add cardiology, urology and neurology departments,” he continued. Dr Moopan pointed out that the facility, once fully functional, will have a larger reception area on the ground floor with a customised elevator going to all the floors of the facility in addition to four other elevators. “Once Phase 3 is completed, there will be a larger pharmacy that will be available 24/7. We also hope to make the clinic 24/7, pending approval from the ministry,” he said. According to the chairman of the group, the name of the clinic was finalised after several months of discussion. “With several rounds of long discussions, we came up with this name. We are focusing on wellness and kin refers to people who are always with you. So we coined the name from these two terms. Then, we have the tagline ‘Empowering Wellness’ to emphasise the whole idea. Wellness is at the core of what we believe in and promotes through our programmes and services,” he added.

Since winning the top prize on Stars of Science (SoS) in 2018 with his life-saving portable device that provides early warning of the possibility of a stroke, Dr Walid Albanna, the young neurosurgeon and renowned researcher from Palestine, has made it his mission to encourage aspiring scientists to follow their curiosity. He has continued to be closely involved with SoS, an edutainment TV show by Qatar Foundation, returning as co-host in 2019 before joining the highly regarded jury in Season 13 last year, drawing on his first-hand experience of winning the show to guide and motivate competitors. He has garnered a devoted international following by posting videos on his YouTube channel covering several topics such as study tips, treating patients for loss of smell and taste after Covid-19 infection among others. As Season 14 of the competition introduces a fresh wave of aspiring science and technology entrepreneurs vying to gain recognition for their inventions, Dr Albanna reflects on his own journey from a contestant to judge and the dawn of a new era of innovation in the Arab world. “It has been a really good experience to go through various roles with SoS. I would probably have seen the role of a juror as extremely difficult if I hadn't been an SoS candidate beforehand. At the start of Season 13, I found the concept of having two juries quite a challenge. It was also incredible how many ideas we evaluated, and the diversity of the topics we dealt with. Overall, I loved being a judge. I still need experience, but that will undoubtedly come with time,” he said. Dr Albanna says that the good thing about SoS is that it reinvents itself every year. “I was very impressed by the number of female participants in Season 13 – and I hope that number doubles. May be SoS 14 will have a female winner,” he noted. He explained: “SoS not only turns ideas into reality; it also reinforces your personality. It’s not just about winning a prize, but about the unique experience of undergoing an intensive learning curve in a very short period of time. You have to be patient and you have to learn how to work in a team. Success never comes from just one person.” According to Dr Albanna, one of the main issues has been a lack of essential structure or organisation to nurture young talent. “Qatar Foundation recognised this problem early on and has been working for many years to help remedy it. I think younger generations are now more focused on scientific careers, and I expect to see many more young innovators emerge from this part of the world,” he remarked. “I used to be locked in a niche, only focused on neurosurgery and science. As a result of my ongoing involvement with SoS, I have expanded my contacts with people from areas outside of medicine. SoS has developed me further. The world of innovation is simply brilliant,” he added.

Urging the international community to do more for protecting education, Education Above All (EAA) Foundation chairperson Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Friday stated that “The time to act is now.” She was addressing an audience consisting of international education leaders in Paris, marking the ‘International Day to Protect Education from Attack’ observed on September 9. Sheikha Moza, also a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) advocate, announced a data portal named TRACE, (Track Attacks on Education), a new tool which applies humanitarian technology to generate reliable, timely data on attacks on education to be freely shared. “Alongside Unesco and Kobo we are developing TRACE, a portal that analyses and demonstrates data in a unique and accessible way. TRACE can be used by students, academics, journalists, policymakers and all who are interested in understanding and countering attacks on education. It will be a single-entry-point to statistics, information and resources,” announced Sheikha Moza. The high profile event was attended by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of Unesco, Nana-Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana; Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and Unesco Goodwill Ambassador; Steffania Giannini, Unesco ADG for Education; Yalda Hakim, Australian broadcast journalist; Rosario Diaz Garavito, CEO of The Millennials Movement and Virginia Gamba, UNSG’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations delivered a message at the event while Catherine M Russell, Unicef Executive Director gave a video message. Sheikha Moza noted that attacks against education is going up year after year. She said: “Last October, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2601. And yet, since then, thousands of attacks have taken place. In 2020 the number of attacks on education increased by one-third compared to 2019 and remained just as high in 2021. All indications suggest that in 2022 they will continue to rise.” Noting that during the Covid-19 pandemic urgent measures were taken to provide education to students, the EAA chairperson said “millions of children continued to be educated throughout the pandemic, in ways that had never been widely used before. Out of the crisis, leaders, teachers, and ordinary members of the community created new ways to ensure children continued to learn.” As most children returned to schools this academic year, she drew the attention to those who could not. The EAA founder highlighted: “But around the world millions of children did not. Millions whose journey to school was too dangerous to make. Millions whose school buildings were destroyed or damaged, or occupied by soldiers. Millions who simply do not have access to education because of conflict. “Out of one crisis, we mobilised, instantly, to develop new ways to teach and learn. Teachers shared screens rather than write on a blackboard. Children practised teamwork via breakout rooms. We didn’t wait then; so why are we not responding now, with solutions to another great crisis: the crisis of attacks on education? “But when schools are bombed, and teachers are killed, – we allow affected children, those who have survived, to continue their lives without education. They are pushed off the very path that will lead them to a better future.” The SDG advocate stressed that for nearly a quarter of a century, she and her team have tried to convince the international community, that educating children matters and it includes all children. “All children matter. Poor children, isolated children – and children who live in, or flee, war zones,” she stressed. Sheikha Moza noted that those who prevent children and destroy education are real people. “They are organisations, they are militias, they are states. They are criminals. As such, they can be brought to account for their actions. If we ignore these criminals, they do not go away. They persist in deliberately targeting students, teachers and schools in deliberately targeting education,” she remarked. “Strike a school, strike education and you strike the very heart of a community and its culture. And in tearing the fabric of a society, you shatter the future for each and every child. Their hopes and dreams lost, the cycle of poverty and violence continues. In my speech two years ago, I spoke of my frustration, at watching the schools we have built being destroyed, and of my frustration at the lack of action from the international community. My frustration has not diminished,” she lamented. “No child is more worthy than any other. Every child deserves the opportunity to develop their intellect and to fulfill their potential. Every child deserves a future,” affirmed Sheikha Moza. “We cannot ignore this any longer. Today’s theme is “time to act,” but it has been time to act for a very long time. It is long past the time to act. We cannot continue to meet once a year, to pat ourselves on the back and be glad that we care. Renewing our commitment is all well and good but that commitment is not something to act on in the future. The time to act is now,” she pointed out. “We cannot remain numb, to the destruction around us, nor immune to the despair of so many. Please, let’s demonstrate the principles we profess to hold,” Sheikha Moza added.

An accidental introduction for Indian expatriate Devnath Sasidharan into the world of First Person View (FPV) drone racing later became a passion leading him to represent his country at several international competitions. The Qatar resident otherwise knew little about the emerging sport of drone racing during 2017-18 when he was participating in an event at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Devnath Sasidharan and teammates victorious at Asia Drone League. “As a student of National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, I was participating in a multicopter challenge organised by IIT Bombay. I fabricated a design and a 3D printed multicopter platform to attend the competition but could not win. My friend and teammate Nimesh controlled the software,” recalled Sasidharan. “At the same time, there was a drone racing competition going on at another part of Mumbai. Out of curiosity I went there and was fascinated to find drones flying at a very high speed. This was something new for me. This was in 2017 when the hobby was just emerging and I decided to try my hand at it,” he continued. Thereafter, there was no looking back for the young lad as he took part in about 30 FPV drone racing competitions and won most of them. Recently he started working as a robotic software engineer in the research and development department of a leading organisation and has been travelling extensively to various countries but still finds time for his passion of drone racing. FPV drone racing is a sport where participants control drones equipped with cameras while wearing head-mounted displays showing the live stream camera feed from the drones. Similar to full size air racing, the goal is to complete a set course as quickly as possible. In fact, Sasidharan was among the 10 or 12 students selected out of 400 applicants in his college for the robotic club when he started his engineering programme. “I had an interest in aeromodelling and started building plane models -fixed ones and remote controlled models of air links. I built a couple of air models and wanted to get into the next stage and this took me into the world of drones and drone racing and then the Mumbai experience happened,” explained, Sasidharan. With generous cash awards, Sasidharan said he could manage to self-support in each competition. “Winning a national competition - Indian Drone Festival 2.0 held at ITDA Dehradun by Dehradun Drones Institute was a huge moment as this helped me represent India in an Asian competition in Malaysia. Another major competition was for the Asia, Australia Pacific region where I came third. I have won over 20 competitions altogether. I could self-fund for all the competitions because of the prize money I won in all the competitions,” he added.

* Minister announces 'My Skills, My Future’ initiative, aimed at supporting students to develop their future skills * Importance of protecting national identity of Qatar’s young people highlighted   HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi yesterday announced the ‘My Skills, My Future’ initiative and emphasised that protecting the national identity, digital transformation, support for educators and reinforcement of higher education to meet the needs of the job market are some of the key components of Qatar’s education. HE al-Nuaimi made these observations while speaking at Qatar Foundation’s Education City Speaker Series Bel Arabi at Qatar National Library, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. 'My Skills, My Future’ is currently in its planning stage, and is aimed at supporting students to develop their future skills – such as technological and communication skills – through curricula and education camps, enabling them to meet the challenges of the labour market. It is one of 13 initiatives as part of the ministry’s strategic plan for education, four of which were unveiled this week. HE the Minister highlighted the importance of protecting the national identity of Qatar’s young people from “cultural dissolution” in the information age, and equipping its students with 21st-century skills. She also noted the importance of adapting to the changing education scenario after the Covid-19 pandemic. “Education prior to Covid-19 is different from what it is after the pandemic. There is a belief that we have to re-conceptualise the system of education. Education has to change in the aftermath of the pandemic which is reality. We have to set the different strategies to overcome the negative impacts of the pandemic,” she noted. HE al-Nuaimi also spoke about how Qatar’s e-learning strategy aims to elevate students’ digital skills and “stimulate their curiosity in modern methods of learning”, and the process of shaping the nation’s education roadmap for the next eight years. “Education is a humanitarian and social process. Its primary goal is to nurture active and good human beings who believe in their role in building their society and their nation, and in contributing to spreading goodness, justice and beauty in this world,” she said. She explained that Qatar’s strategic direction for education places students at its core “so they can seek lifelong learning provided by education, flexibility, curiosity, passion and creativity”, with a focus on teachers as “role models” who “inspire and empower themselves to achieve excellence”. She remarked how the views of both students and teachers had been sought in shaping Qatar’s e-learning strategy, and described schools as being “a student’s second home, and they need to feel they belong there in order to grow”. “Education is a great responsibility that rests on everyone’s shoulders – let’s work together to keep the torch of learning glowing and make Qatar a beacon of science, knowledge, and peace in the world,” she exhorted the gathering. The discussion – which took place in the Arabic language – saw HE the Minister say: “It is imperative for us to have policies and frameworks in place to protect our young people and their national identity from cultural dissolution amid the unprecedented flow of information that comes to them across all communication channels. “Our national and local identity and our culture – inspired by our religion, our customs and traditions, and our Arabic language – is the foundation of this. It is at the core of building the Qatari personality, which is rooted in our values while at the same time being open to the world.” HE al-Nuaimi pointed out that educating children and young people “is no longer confined to sciences, or gaining knowledge”, saying: “Human skills are very important in dealing with the challenges of life." “That is why we have focused on developing our students’ 21st-century skills, encouraging them to think in a critical way which will help them transition smoothly to higher education, and then to be competitive in the regional and international labor market while being aware of the needs of this market,” she added. Reflecting Qatar Foundation’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, the Education City Speaker Series Bel Arabi event with HE al-Nuaimi was held with Arabic sign language being available.