Covid fight ‘a big success’
Bahrain’s successful battle against the global coronavirus pandemic has been highlighted at a global stage.
Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani outlined the timely steps taken by Bahrain as part of a calibrated strategy to contain the spread of Covid-19 as well as save lives.
He was delivering Bahrain’s statement at the UN General Assembly yesterday.
Even while fighting the challenges of the pandemic and its detrimental impact, both social and economic, Bahrain has continued with its reforms while promoting human rights and strengthening its co-operation with the world, Dr Al Zayani said.
The Foreign Minister also outlined the challenges facing the region.
He stressed Bahrain’s growing partnership with the global organisation and expressed the country’s determination to support its efforts for the benefit of the world.
“Today, we stand in this hall and witness the first steps in the recovery from Covid-19, following last year’s virtual session, which proved that international co-operation and global partnership are essential to deal with the risks of this pandemic, and to address its effects on human safety and health,” he said.
Bahrain, under the leadership and guidance of His Majesty King Hamad, took all the necessary measures to be fully prepared to face the repercussions of this pandemic, harnessing all capabilities and efforts to protect citizens and residents alike and provide the necessary healthcare for all, without discrimination, Dr Al Zayani said.
“The national efforts, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, played a pivotal role in the speed of the response and developing pre-emptive strategies and plans to deal with all scenarios, before the announcement of the first case in the kingdom in February 2020, with all measures being taken to protect society from the risk of the pandemic,” he said.
“The kingdom also followed the ‘tracing, testing, treatment’ strategy to minimise close contacts and limit the spread of the virus in society, under the supervision of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, which was formed to set plans and protocols for dealing with the developments of the virus.”
He said Bahrain has taken a series of measures aimed at protecting the health of citizens and residents on the one hand, and preserving the economy and the livelihood of citizens on the other hand, with the launch of a financial and economic stimulus package worth more than BD4.5 billion, equivalent to a third of the kingdom GDP.
The country has also strengthened its co-ordination with the World Health Organisation to confront the repercussions of this pandemic, “and we are proud that the World Health Organisation has designated Manama as the first healthy city in the Middle East region”.
Bahrain also shares the international community’s interest in climate change and its effects on human life, and the efforts being made to mitigate its effects on the environment, and we look forward to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-26), the Foreign Minister said.
He also pointed out that the Middle East continues to be in a state of instability. Bahrain called on the international community to focus its efforts together on achieving security.
Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/978321/Covid-fight-%E2%80%98a-big-success%E2%80%99
