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Emphasising Qatar’s rising clout as a hub of research and innovation, the United Nations has selected the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord), a Qatar-based research entity, to provide an innovation lab, which is accredited and endorsed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).“The Gord Labs at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) will act as a platform to host young researchers by facilitating them in conducting technical testing, experimental work, as well as exchanging knowledge and forward-looking ideas with Gord’s senior researchers,” disclosed, Dr Yousef Alhorr, founding chairman of Gord in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times.This new initiative was unveiled recently at a well-attended virtual event, bringing together more than 200 delegates from UN agencies, Member States, and stakeholders from both public and private sectors across various countries, he said.The Gord-UNOSSC Lab aims to accelerate the development and implementation of innovative solutions through South-South and triangular cooperation. Integrated within the broader UNOSSC Strategic Framework 2022–2025, the Lab is designed to foster knowledge exchange, capacity building, and technology transfer to address complex development challenges.Dr Alhorr said that Gord is focused on several activities targeting different sectors at local, regional as well as global level. “We hope that the Gord Labs will help young researchers develop their innovations and get them ready for implementation and commercialisation. This collaboration with the UNOSSC is a significant milestone to have Gord as a United Nations-endorsed entity. The project also positions Qatar as a hub for knowledge exchange and innovation,” explained the founding chairman of Gord.“Gord's location within QSTP, which is part of Qatar Foundation, positions it as the ideal site for establishing cutting-edge laboratories. Our portfolio of services includes research and development, standards setting, green buildings certification, accreditation services, voluntary carbon markets, performance testing, knowledge dissemination, 3D prototyping and advisory services on sustainability and climate change,” continued, Dr Alhorr.The project focuses on increasing the capability of developing countries to make informed, evidence-based decisions, incubating and scaling both existing and new solutions. Additionally, it aims to devise and implement strategic policies tailored to meet emerging global challenges.By fostering a systematic approach to innovation, collaboration, and strategic partnership among countries in the Global South and their triangular cooperation partners, the Lab aspires to drive significant advancements in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fulfilling the 2030 Agenda. This involves not only promoting innovative ideas and experiments but also enhancing the visibility and adoption of effective solutions through dynamic communication and robust advocacy strategies.“With respect to research and development, exciting developments are underway and we look forward to greater growth in the near future,” added, Dr Alhorr.

Alfardan Medical with Northwestern Medicine (AMNM) has launched several innovative treatments with next-generation therapies for men's health, particularly focused on prostrate health.Speaking to Gulf Times, Dr Mehmet Salih Boga, a urologist at AMNM, prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can lead to a variety of urinary problems.He explained: “As the prostate grows, it can obstruct the urethra and restrict the flow of urine. This can cause symptoms such as frequent urination, difficulty starting urination, a weak urine stream, the feeling that the bladder is not completely empty, and an increased need to urinate at night. In more severe cases, BPH can lead to urinary retention, where the bladder is unable to empty completely, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections, bladder Stones and renal failure.”Dr Boga said that the novel treatments offer more targeted and effective solutions with fewer side effects. He stated: “The prostate is a gland found only in males. The prostate is located just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.”Dr Boga remarked that treatment options for BPH vary depending on the severity of the symptoms and may include medication, minimally invasive procedures or surgery.The physician noted: “Alpha blockers, and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors medications relax the muscles of the prostate and bladder neck and also sometimes shrink the prostate by blocking the hormone that causes prostate growth helping to improve urine flow. The side effects of the medication include dizziness, fatigue, among others,” stated the physician.He has also recommended some surgical options for the prostrate treatment such as Rezum, Transurethral resection of the prostate, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, transurethral needle ablation, Prostatic urethral lift, Prostatic Artery Embolisation and Open or Robot-assisted prostatectomy.Among these treatments, Rezum is one of the most popular next-generation prostate therapy, noted the doctor.“Rezum prostate surgery is a minimally invasive treatment for BPH that uses water vapour (steam) to reduce the volume of the prostate. The procedure is designed to alleviate symptoms such as frequent urination, weak stream, and difficulty starting urination, without the need for more invasive surgery,” highlighted Dr Boga.He continued that the procedure involves inserting a small device into the urethra, through which water vapour is delivered directly into the prostate tissue. The steam causes the targeted prostate cells to die, which are then absorbed by the body, resulting in a reduction of prostate volume and relief of symptoms.

Assisted Home Haemodialysis (AHHD), a national programme in Qatar is a pathbreaker in many ways, according to an article in Qatar Medical Journal and featured on QScience.com recently.“The programme stands as a testament to Hamad Medical Corporation’s unwavering commitment to excellence," says the article ‘Qatar’s assisted home haemodialysis programme: A beacon of hope for the vulnerable patient.”"This innovative care model is tailored to address the distinct challenges of haemodialysis patients, particularly the elderly, who require ambulance transport.”AHHD initiative, sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), is specifically designed to address the quality-of-life needs and pressing concerns of the elderly dialysis population in Qatar, who rely primarily on ambulance transportation. This approach aims to reduce hospitalisations, medical costs, strain on ambulance services and dialysis capacity, and improve overall care.According to the authors of the article, AHHD provides the haemodialysis patients, especially the elderly with the convenience of at-home dialysis with the full support of dedicated nursing care. AHHD included 76 patients from July 2021 to December 2022. It has significantly improved patients’ quality of life, achieving an exceptional 99% satisfaction rate with an extremely low complication rate.Home haemodialysis is usually done as self-care by the patients themselves through a portable haemodialysis machine under training and monitoring by a dialysis team. It offers greater patient autonomy, cost benefits, and treatment-related flexibility, and its outcomes showed improved quality of life and patient survival compared to traditional in-centre haemodialysis.End-stage kidney disease prevalence has increased significantly in the last few decades and its prevalence is increasing in Qatar and is expected to go up by 30% by the end of 2030, say the writers of the article.Dialysis services in Qatar are solely provided by HMC and there are seven haemodialysis centres across Qatar. However, the long-distance travel and the three-weekly dialysis regimen may lead to burnout and missed treatment sessions.The frequent transportation of elderly dialysis patients with restricted mobility with constant movement between beds and stretchers or wheelchairs increase the risk of falls and fractures due to their mineral and bone disease related to age, risk factors.Moreover, strict regulations limit family members’ presence, further isolating them especially during Covid-19 times.The changes from in-centre dialysis to home haemodialysis met with some resistance and fear from patients and family members initially. This resistance was overcome by providing awareness, along with proof from evidence-based practices across the globe, illuminating the safety and efficacy of HHD.AHHD has also delivered tangible improvements in health outcomes, marked by a reduction in hospitalisations, decreased transmission of Covid-19, cost-effectiveness, alleviating strain on ambulance services, and reducing demand for dialysis slots and manpower.The article suggests that initiating an AHHD programme emerges as a potential solution to enhance the overall well-being and care quality of the vulnerable elderly population. Addressing specialised transportation, cost-efficiency, personnel training, reduced wait times, improved patient comfort, and alternative care options can significantly improve the care experience by providing dialysis treatment in the comfort of their homes, vastly enhancing the care experience for elderly dialysis patients.The article concludes that the clinical and financial success of the AHHD programme positions it as a superior alternative to traditional in-centre dialysis, particularly in its capacity to cater to the needs of the most complex and challenging patient populations.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation ( HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation, has launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about breastfeeding.While dispelling some of the common breastfeeding myths, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and its lasting impact on the newborns. The World Breastfeeding Week is marked annually from August 1 to 7.Duaa Alafaghany, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and breastfeeding specialist at Women’s Wellness and research Centre, HMC, in a video on social media notes that there are several misconceptions about breastfeeding which have no scientific basis and explains them in detail.Several posts on the social media channels of MoPH and the partners highlight these myths regarding breastfeeding and the facts behind the same. One of the common myths is that breastfeeding is too difficult and painful. “ Many mothers experience discomfort in the first few days after giving birth as they learn how to breastfeed. However with the right support and positioning, this can be avoided,” highlights the campaign.Another myth is that not all mothers produce enough milk to breastfeed which is quite wrong as all mothers naturally produce enough milk to breastfeed their babies and frequent breastfeeding will induce and increase milk production.There is another prevalent misconception that babies should be disciplined from early age as breastfeeding and holding them when they cry, will spoil them and make them weak. However the fact is that babies cannot be spoiled at the early moments of life as they need love and responsive care. There is also a common belief that mothers cannot breastfeed after a C-section which is quite wrong as breastfeeding after a C-section is quite possible.The campaign is also raising awareness about a few more myths about breastfeeding. One of them is that an exclusively breastfed baby needs to have water occasionally. “Breastmilk is 80% water, especially the first milk that comes with each feed. Babies do need water before they are six months old even in a hot climate,” explains the campaign.Finally, another common misconception is that a baby cannot be breastfed if he or she is sick. However, the truth is that babies can be breastfed even if they are sick as breastfeeding boosts the immune system of the babies and the mothers’ antibodies are passed to the babies through breast milk helping the babies fight the illness or infections.

Precision medicine is set to change the landscape of healthcare in the coming days, a Qatar Foundation (QF) expert has said.Dr Said Ismail, acting president of QF’s Qatar Precision Health Institute, notes that precision medicine will change the future landscape of healthcare by reducing costs through focusing on preventing diseases rather than treating them, and allow patients to take greater responsibility for their care and the prevention of illness, leading to more accurate care and fewer side effects.Dr Ismail explained: “Many of our visits to the doctor in the future will focus on diseases that we may be at risk of contracting, rather than those that we have already contracted, as attention will focus on predicting and preventing future diseases and not just the individual’s medical history.”According to Dr Ismail, this change is very important, as the patient will co-operate with the doctor to develop a preventive pathway aimed at avoiding diseases, rather than simply treating them after they occur. This will cut the cost of care and also provide more information to the patient about his health, with artificial intelligence technologies supporting the handling of vital healthcare data.“Given the different response of individuals to medications, the first application in the clinical field will be to customise treatment for everyone based on his personal response,” he says. “This means that we will move from the concept of ‘one treatment fits all’ to personalised and effective treatments, which will be adapted to the needs and responses of everyone.“Genetic screening programmes at birth will also be expanded, which means more diseases can be screened for from the moment of birth, and any potential health risks can be detected early.”Dr Ismail emphasises the importance of ensuring that everyone benefits from precision health care, saying: “To avoid exacerbating existing health gaps, precision health care must be built on a detailed understanding of the genetic makeup of the individual.“This requires an initial investment in genetic research for each ethnic group. With the support of other countries, developed countries with less capabilities can produce the necessary genetic data, which will also contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the human genetic map.”To maximise the effectiveness and benefit of precision healthcare, Dr Ismail says, healthcare workers must keep up with rapid developments in the field and have a basic level of knowledge about how genetic testing works and how to interpret such data in general.As an example of moving this strand of healthcare from the laboratory into direct clinical use, Dr Ismail points to a pioneering model for Qatar, where a genetic sequencing study conducted for a group of participants, revealed that some women carry a mutation in the two genes responsible for the familial pattern of breast cancer. They were contacted and early interventions were conducted, which helped detect tumours in their early stages and remove them.“The success of this experiment means that it can be generalised to other types of familial cancers,” he added. “It means we will be able to identify everyone who carries a genetic mutation that may threaten their life, and, within the healthcare system, provide them with preventive measures that reduce the possibility of this disease occurring.“This will enhance the translation of precision healthcare from research into preventive medical care in Qatar.”

An academic from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) says that the rapid evolution in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities makes it imperative to integrate media literacy into the educational frameworks.In an article in Al-Fanar Media, George Mikros, co-ordinator of the MA in Digital Humanities and Societies programme at College of Humanities and Social Sciences, HBKU, says the necessity for media literacy in education is not a new concept, but the urgency with which it must be integrated into curricula is unprecedented.“Today’s youth are growing up in a world where the lines between real and artificial are increasingly blurred. The content they consume—from educational materials to entertainment—is likely to be influenced or even generated by AI. This shift necessitates a new kind of literacy,” says Mikros.He says that the new wave of multimodal generative AI tools require an expansion of competencies.“Future generations need to distinguish between human-generated and AI-generated content in all modalities. They must understand the potential biases embedded within AI systems and the ethical implications of AI in media content creation. These skills are critical not only for making informed decisions about the content but also for participating responsibly in digital spaces,” he explains.The academic cautions that the implications of failing to equip the youth with the new AI skills are serious. “Without a proper understanding of digital media’s nature, young people are at risk of misinformation and manipulation. The ability of generative AI to produce convincing yet entirely fabricated audio and video content could lead to increases in ‘deepfakes’, sophisticated scams, and more subtle forms of influence that could sway public opinion or personal beliefs without critical scrutiny,” he points out.Mikros also argues the linguistic content that the generative AI models produce is restricted and exhibits reduced diversity in concepts and semantic dimensions compared to humans. He suggests: “As generative AI models will start being trained with more and more artificially generated data, we should expect the quality of the produced outputs to be diminished and the biases already existing in the human training data to be amplified and become prominent.”To address these challenges, the writer points to a multifaceted approach. He notes: “Educators need specialised support and training to navigate this new reality. Many teachers may feel ill-equipped to teach about technologies that they struggle to understand. Investment in professional development and resources that can help demystify AI for educators, is crucial to helping them feel empowered to teach these essential skills effectively.”The digital expert also suggests collaboration between educational institutions, technology companies, and policymakers to ensure that curriculum developments keep pace with technological advancements. He also points to the role of parents who play a critical role in fostering media literacy.The author feels that media literacy should not be seen as a static set of skills but a continuously evolving framework that adapts to new media landscapes. “The integration of robust media literacy into education is not just about protecting young minds—it is about preparing them to navigate and shape the digital world responsibly. By fostering a deep understanding of digital media’s workings, we empower future generations to not only consume content critically but also to influence the creation and use of technology in a way that benefits society,” Mikros added.

Qatar University (QU) has launched a research project aimed at introducing hydrogel agriculture for greenhouse farming in Qatar for the fi rst time. According to an article ‘Hydrogel Agriculture to Support Food Security in Qatar’ written by Prof Alaa AlHawari, department head of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, QU, one of the successful methods in promoting agricultural sustainability is the employment of hydrogels that are capable of absorbing water manifold their weight, retaining nutrients, and preventing soil erosion. Prof AlHawari notes: “Compost soil used in greenhouses has low retention of water.If compost soil is to be used for agriculture in an arid climate such as Qatar, the water retention of such soils should be enhanced to maintain a low food cost.” “Laboratory and fi eld experiments have demonstrated that hydrogel is a smart technique that could provide a water reservoir in soil that can be tapped into by plants in hot climate areas. Hydrogel helps to grow more food while using less water by mixing with the soil to capture the irrigation water near the plant; this will help the plants to grow more steadily over time,” he explained.The QU project suggests a novel hydrogel material, made of up to 99% weight of water and environmentally biodegradable, nontoxic and inexpensive materials. The hydrogel material was pilot tested at actual greenhouses in Agrico farm, a renowned farming facility in Qatar. The implementation of hydrogel agriculture is based on sandwiching a thin hydrogel layer inside the compost bags used in Agrico farm. The presence of this layer assists in reducing water losses by increasing the water retention capacity of the grow bag. The growth of plants, water and nutrients retention, and crop production for hydrogel-containing samples and control samples were closely monitored throughout the plantation process for comparison process.

A research project, being conducted at Central Laboratories Unit at Qatar University in co-operation with the Omar bin Abdul Aziz Secondary School for Boys of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, aims to study the possibility of removing pollution from solutions of heavy and rare elements using humic acid and natural clay. An article in the latest edition of QU Research Magazine by Dr Noora al-Qahtani, acting head of CLU, highlights that one of the most pressing environmental challenges in industrial and university sectors is the treatment and disposal of wastewater resulting from analytical activities, such as those in atomic spectroscopy laboratories. Large quantities of liquid waste that contain heavy and rare elements and other environmental pollutants are generated during various analysis processes depending on the nature of the analysed samples.This study looks into the possibility of the treatment of such wastewater. The use of natural, cheap and sustainable absorbents in the treatment of heavy metals is one of the most important methods that help in the safe disposal of these wastes. One of these absorbents is humic substances or what is known as organic materials that naturally exist in agricultural soil and riverbeds. They are natural polymeric materials that include different types of functional groups.The research plan for this study includes separation, purification and classification of humic acid extracted from agricultural manure and preparing humic acid complexes with metals for many heavy metal ions from wastewater in the Atomic Spectrometry Laboratory in the Central Laboratories Unit, which were found to contain many chemical pollutants of the environment upon analysis. It aims to study humic acid-mineral compounds using accurate laboratory wastewater solution and the compounds of elements with natural clay materials through accurate laboratory wastewater solutions. It will also look make a comparative study between the absorption of humic acid and natural clay for heavy and rare metals. And attempt to reach a preliminary design for a filter that contains humic acid and natural clay materials that would be applicable in the various development phases. The research looks at the possibility of using humic and clay materials to treat heavy and rare metal contamination since these materials have compound properties with heavy metals, which many other studies have referred to. The objectives of this study were to use natural organic polymers such as humic acid and natural clay to study the feasibility of these materials for removing heavy metals from wastewater in chemical laboratories.Through a carefully designed research programme, the team from CLU, along with a large group of students from the Chemistry and Earth Sciences major in the College of Arts and Sciences and Chemical Engineering major in the College of Engineering at QU collected samples of wastewater from various atomic spectroscopy analysis laboratories and measured its physical and chemical properties using the techniques and methods of equipment available. The research team is studying the effect of changing the weights of natural absorbents, the impact of increasing the time for pollutants to be exposed to absorbents, the effect of temperature change, the impact of change in the power of hydrogen and other factors. The elements that are studied to search for the best conditions for their removal include arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc, molybdenum, silver, barium and beryllium, which exist in the contents of the atomic spectrometer wastewater.

To realise the aspiration of the largest expatriate community in Qatar of having its own embassy building, the Indian mission is all set to start the construction process of its chancery within a few months, disclosed the ambassador.In an exclusive interview with Gulf Times, Indian ambassador, Vipul said the Qatar government has allotted approximately 5,000sq m of land for the chancery project.“In February this year, we floated the expression of interest for participating in the project," the envoy said while explaining that more than 10 companies have taken part in the initial bidding process.“Right now, all these bids by the companies are being evaluated and analysed by the Ministry of External Affairs in India. Once the evaluation is completed, the final list of companies for the construction of the building will be ready. Thereafter, the final tender or bids will be invited from the selected companies,” noted the ambassador.“Once these companies submit the final bids with the design and the cost of the construction, we will choose and approve one and start the construction of the building. We hope that the whole process will be completed in the next few months and the construction will start very soon,” he continued.According to the envoy, the project will get started fairly soon in about a few months and will be completed well on time if everything goes well.“This is one of the major priorities for the community and I hope to see it completed well on time. I don't know what will be the timeline that the selected company will need to complete the project, but it will be our efforts to complete the project fully or substantially during my tenure,” he pointed out.Vipul also said that currently, the Indian population in Qatar is slightly in excess of 800,000 and the new embassy building will facilitate many of the needs of the growing community in the country.“The plot allotted for the chancery is approximately 5,000sqm. We have to follow the local rules and regulations for the built-up area and accordingly the final area of the chancery will be decided,” added, ambassador Vipul.

The Centre for Advanced Materials (CAM) at Qatar University (QU) has successfully developed and implemented an innovative solar panel station with autonomous dry-cleaning technology.This cutting-edge project is poised to be a cornerstone in renewable energy harvesting within the campus premises, notes an article by CAM director Prof Mohammad Refa’at Irshidat in the latest edition of QU Research Magazine.The project tackles a major challenge hindering solar energy efficiency in Qatar - dust accumulation. A project led by Prof Irshidat and research staff members Dr Zubair Ahmad, section head of Module Development and Publication at QU Young Scientists Centre and Dr Kishor Sadasivuni, research assistant professor from CAM successfully installed autonomous dry cleaning systems for solar panels. The one ingenious technology uses a miniaturised wind turbine to run the self-sustainable dry-cleaning system while the second one utilises motorised brushes that automatically detect and remove dust, ensuring optimal performance.The initiative began with a comprehensive study utilising wind turbine-based portable solar panel cleaning systems. Over a period of 30 days, various electrical parameters were measured to assess the performance of these panels. Real-time experiments at Al Duhail area confirmed a 5-8% efficiency improvement for solar panels equipped with the self-cleaning setup compared to those without any cleaning measures. The motor-based prototype consumes extremely low power due to the use of lightweight components and gives it an edge over other machines in the market.The self-sustainable solar cleaning prototype features a wind turbine, gears assembly and a dry brush for efficient auto-cleaning of solar panels. Renewable wind energy is utilised to rotate the wind turbine attached to the top of the solar panel. The rotational motion of the wind turbine is converted into the linear motion of the cleaning brush via a gear and chain assembly. The gears were 3D printed using the fused deposition additive manufacturing method. The 3D printing gives control over the pitch of the groves in gear for precise rotation and reduces the weight of the attachment. The incorporation of 3D printed parts makes the design more susceptible to incorporate modifications and changes relatively based on the specific requirements of the end user.The motor-based automated solar panel cleaning system operates based on input from the integrated dust detection sensor. Upon detecting dust accumulation on the solar panel, the cleaning process is activated and persists until the dust sensor feedback drops below the predefined threshold. Additionally, the cleaning apparatus is outfitted with sensors to restrict the movement of the cleaning brush within the confines of the solar panel frame. The designed cleaning system has extremely low power consumption and the cleaning methodology eliminates any type and mass of dust.The developed prototypes can easily be installed on new solar panels or retrofitted with older ones. It is designed to work well for both flat and tilted solar panels, ensuring that nearly all angles are cleaned. The fully autonomous dry-cleaning system for solar panels is equally attractive and applicable for small, large and unattended installations in remote and dry areas where water is scarce. The developed prototypes are self-sufficient and work automatically. The dry-cleaning technology is non-abrasive, ensuring cleaning efficiency without affecting the solar panel glass surface. The system has been designed primarily to be simple, robust, lightweight, precise and credible.

To meet the demands of its burgeoning population in Qatar, the Indian embassy is planning to outsource its consular service very soon, Gulf Times has learnt."This is a proposal we are discussing with the Ministry of External Affairs in India so that we can be far more efficient and provide better consular services. We are at an advanced stage of discussions and it will take place sometime soon,” Indian ambassador Vipul told Gulf Times.“Once it is outsourced, the entire services will be done by the agency that will handle it. This includes issuing of new passports, renewal of the passports, visa service, police verification certificates, attestation of documents among others,” explained the envoy.According to the ambassador, the current Indian population in Qatar is slightly in excess of 800,000 and the consular service needs are on the increase.At present all these services are done at the embassy. In addition, two apex bodies under the Indian embassy also carry out some of the consular services.The Indian envoy noted that the passports are generally issued at the embassy within a reasonably good time without much delay. He elaborated: “Currently, we are issuing the passports in about 10 days including the weekend holidays. So, essentially it is done in about seven to eight working days. It is our effort to bring it down further. Several of the other documents are done and issued on the same day.”“Sometimes there is a surge in application for passport renewal due to several reasons such as the holiday season and delays can happen at that time. During last March and April, there was some heavy rush for passport services and hence there was some delay for the passport renewal,” he continued.The ambassador said the embassy has taken every effort to provide the consular services at the earliest and very efficiently.“One of my priorities is to see that the consular services are delivered well on time and the outsourcing of it will make it smoother and faster. Though the current number of days to issue a new passport is fairly reasonable by most standards, we are putting in our efforts to bring the number of days further down,” added ambassador Vipul.

A report published on Qatar-based Qscience.com by a group of healthcare experts and academics, has highlighted the pressing requirement to address the health emergency in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict. They have also called for global intervention to assist the Gazan population in this dire situation.The report highlights the impact of the ongoing conflict in Gaza resulting in unfortunate and tragic events. According to the authors of the report, the escalation of the war, along with the massive shortage of essential medications and limited staff members, has worsened the already exhausted healthcare system and significantly impacted healthcare delivery and accessibility.The report by Faisal Ahmed, Nasr Alhajeeli, Mohamed Badheeb, Saif Ghabisha, Basheer Mahyoub and Afrah Salem, all academic and healthcare experts from various universities in Yemen, provide an in-depth look into the current situation and raises concerns about an urgent health catastrophe affecting the whole population in Gaza.The key health issues that the writers have highlighted are the hindrance for health delivery and accessibility; the issue of infectious disease; problems regarding reproductive health; impact on mental health and water and sanitation issues.“Various independent agencies have reported unprecedented increases in women’s, maternal, and children’s mortality and morbidity with the persistence of the conflict. Furthermore, poor sanitation and water accessibility have resulted in increased diarrhoeal and other infectious illnesses,” note the authors in their report.Additionally, they point out that the psychological and mental implications of war are probably underemphasised and unrecognised, which would persist even after the conflict resolution. The report stresses that the academic community has a moral responsibility to conduct inquiries, impart knowledge, and provide training while also advocating for peace and humanitarian aid.The authors also call upon the internationally recognised organisations, including the United Nations, and highlight that they have a pivotal role in delivering healthcare and essential humanitarian supplies to stabilise environmental and health consequences in Gaza, alleviate detrimental health issues, and prevent further deterioration.They stress that the UN has to play a key role to advocate lifting the blockade to facilitate the entry of medicines, food, water, and fuel into Gaza for immediate relief in humanitarian crises. They have also urged the UN to spearhead the coordination of international efforts to support the health system in Gaza, alongside rigourous monitoring of human rights.“Urgent international humanitarian aid is needed to address these critical health issues, alongside efforts to lift the blockade and promote peace-building initiatives. The academic community and the UN play pivotal roles in advocating for policy changes, coordinating relief efforts, and supporting capacity-building initiatives to mitigate the health crisis in Gaza,” concludes, the report.Qscience.com is an innovative and collaborative, peer-reviewed, online publishing platform from Hamad bin Khalifa University Press offering a fast and transparent open access scholarly publishing process, centred on the authors bringing their research to a global audience. It hosts a range of open-access, peer-reviewed content.

The thriving and robust India-Qatar relations with an annual trade volume of $16bn, are set to grow higher with collaborations in several new areas, stated Indian ambassador Vipul in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times.“India and Qatar have very strong and robust bilateral relations. There are several new areas of that India and Qatar are aiming to collaborate and some of them have already taken place. In the last one year itself, there have been great developments on several areas,” he explained.The thriving and robust #India-#Qatar relations with an annual trade volume of $16bn, are set to grow higher with collaborations in several new areas, stated Indian ambassador Vipul in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times. @IndEmbDoha https://t.co/O0WOqIoLcd pic.twitter.com/BXTy4HiqHF— Gulf Times (@GulfTimes_QATAR) July 10, 2024 According to the Indian envoy, the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February this year has been quite successful as he met with the top the leadership of Qatar including His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani among others.“Prime minister Modi had very fruitful discussions with the leadership of Qatar which included many areas such as politics, trade, energy, investment, consular services and others. Recently His Highness the Amir made a phone call to congratulate Modi on his third term as the prime minister of India and the leaders again discussed various aspects for cementing the relationship,” explained Vipul.The Indian ambassador disclosed that the trade volume between India and Qatar is about $16bn per annum and it is a great trade partnership between both the countries.“India has recently signed an agreement to buy 7.5mn tonnes of LNG from Qatar from 2028 for 20 years which is a continuation of the long term partnership in energy with Qatar. In terms of total LNG import to India, 45% is from Qatar. More recently we have signed an agreement for Haldia Petrochemicals in India to receive 2mn tonnes of Naphtha from QatarEnergy,” continued the ambassador.“In terms of investment, we have seen some big deals from Qatar including Qatar's investment in Indian firms such as Reliance and Adani Green. In addition we have people to people co-operation from both the sides which is very positive and robust. In the last one year itself, there are many positive developments in terms of investment,” he noted.The envoy said that the relationship is very strong in many areas and there are several new areas where discussions for collaborations are going on. He elaborated: “The effort is to deepen the already existing collaboration and look for new partnerships to give better dimensions for the relationship between both the countries. The effort is to expand the relations to new areas as the world is changing with newer technology and energy concepts. Since our relations are more into energy, we are focusing on clean energy aspects for collaboration, more into renewable energy."“Giving importance to Qatar's priorities and India's efforts, we would be focusing on sustainability, newer areas in technology and artificial intelligence. We are currently looking at new areas of sustainability, renewable energy, startups, food security and the traditional aspects of trade and investment in renewable energy. There is already collaboration in renewable energy between Qatar and Adani Green and we are focusing on other areas too,” added the ambassador.

As many as 2024 participants - if not more- will take part in the yoga event at the Asian Town Cricket Stadium to mark the 10th UN International Day of Yoga on June 21, said the organisers of the event at a press briefing on Tuesday.Arranged by the Indian embassy in collaboration with Indian Cultural Centre( ICC) and Indian Sports Centre ( ISC), the event will be held from 6pm to 8.30pm, disclosed the Indian ambassador, Vipul.The press conference was attended by Sachin Dinkar Shankpal, first secretary, Indian embassy; Manikantan A P, president, ICC and Abdulrahman E P, president ISC. Ambassador Vipul said that International Day of Yoga is celebrated across the world and many yoga activities in preparation of the Yoga Day have been going on in Qatar for the past several days.“We would be organising a big event on June 21 at Asian Town Cricket stadium. The event is open to the general public and everyone is invited join the occasion. The main element of the event will be the performance of Common Yoga Protocol by all participants for about 40 minutes,” explained the ambassador.The envoy noted that this year's theme for the International Yoga Day , "Yoga for Self and Society," emphasises the holistic benefits of yoga for individuals and its power to foster harmony between humanity and nature. The event will also feature yoga competitions for both children and adults and a yoga quiz with attractive prizes for winners.The organisers highlighted that all the necessary arrangements have been done to make the event a smooth experience for all the participants. They also noted that anyone can join the event and all nationalities are encouraged to take part in the mega event. They recalled that previous editions of the event in Qatar, since 2015, have been highly successful and have drawn the attention of the international community.The UN proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by a resolution which was proposed by India and co-sponsored by a record 177 member states in December 2014. Over the past few years, the day has been celebrated with great fanfare across the world including Doha. In 2022, for the celebration of 8th International Yoga Day, an event was organised in Doha where 114 nationalities were represented and a new Guinness World Record was created for the most nationalities in one Yoga session.Further details to join the event can be collected from ‘Information & Culture Wing, at Email:[email protected]; [email protected]; or phone:44255709; 44255745.

Trauma is carried in the body and passed along for generations, a Sidra Medicine counsellor has highlighted. “The impact of conflict and displacement on the family is both complex and layered, affecting both the unit and its individual members,” said, Manal Samara, a psychological counsellor at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Sidra Medicine, Qatar Foundation (QF) .“This instability causes emotional turmoil. Daily decisions being made – big and small – are life and death. Trauma is carried in the body and passed along for generations,” highlighted, Samara in an article published on QF website.Samara explained: “One impact we see immediately is the breakdown of traditional roles – mother, father, child – and people are left to fill in the missing gaps when tragedy strikes. Stay-at-home caregivers are suddenly sole financial providers; young children become protectors of even younger siblings – they are robbed of their childhood and are thrown into survival mode.”The article highlights the example of Zahra Amin, a British-Sudanese national living in Qatar, who narrates her family’s struggle during the ongoing war in Sudan. Initially, when the war broke out, they chose to wait it out in their family home in Khartoum, a decision that weighed heavily on her.“A week later, things were just getting worse,” Amin said. "My mother and brother decided to take a 12-hour bus ride to Egypt. My father chose to stay with his sister and her daughter, who is disabled and has limited mobility. My family was separated; some were safe and some were not. That month was a nightmare.”Eventually, Amin’s father and aunt – British passport holders – were among those evacuated to the UK by the British government. Her aunt could take only her daughter with her as a dependent, leaving her son behind.“It’s important to stress that all those who managed to leave are the ‘lucky ones’,” she stated. “Millions of people remain in Sudan and are suffering immensely from the ongoing conflict – unable to get support or relief.Another example is that of Azza Nassar, an alumna of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, who left Gaza in Palestine in 2021 to pursue her master’s degree, leaving her family behind. She currently lives in Qatar, while her parents were evacuated to Egypt after the war on Gaza began in October 2024.“I know I am lucky because though we are apart, I know my parents are safe,” Nassar said. “But in Palestine, we cannot talk about the resilience of the family unit if there are no families left in the first place. Families are being erased from the civil registry.”Samara points out that evacuees from conflict zones endure hardship, witness destruction, and experience trauma and stress, not only during wars and conflicts but also while integrating into host countries or resettling and building new lives. “We talk about post-traumatic stress disorder but in Palestine and Sudan right now, there is no ‘post-trauma’. Families are still fighting to survive in the present. We know from the data collected from other regions – Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq – that post-conflict, people will likely suffer from high stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues,” added, Samara.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani inaugurated Monday the Korean Medical Centre (KMC) at Lusail City.Following the inauguration he toured the facilities and was briefed on the KMC's specialist departments and centres by medical director and head of executive health Dr Lee Sunpyo and other officials.HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah and Korean ambassadorto Qatar Joon-Ho Lee attended the inauguration, as did Estithmar Holding Group chairperson Mohamad Moutaz al-Khayyat, Estithmar vice-chairperson and president Ramez al-Khayyat, Estithmar chief executive Mohamed Badr al-Sada, and members of Estithmar Holding's board of directors.Elegancia Healthcare chief executive Joseph Hazel and KMC general manager Dr Ahmed al-Kalla also attended the inauguration.The KMC brings together four most sought-after Korean healthcare providers – namely Asan Medical Centre, J K Medical Group, Seoul Ahnkang Hospital and Lime Tree Dental Hospital – under one facility.“After the successful collaboration between The View Hospital and Cedars-Sinai, as well as Estithmar Holding’s impressive extension of operations in Algeria and Iraq, we are honoured to have HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani officially inaugurate the Korean Medical Centre,” Moutaz al-Khayyat said.“South Korea has been a global leader in healthcare thanks to its effective and specialised healthcare system that continues to achieve remarkable results,” said Ramez al-Khayyat. “Therefore, our strategy when establishing the Korean Medical Centre is to attract the most prominent healthcare providers in Korea to provide the most exceptional healthcare experience in Qatar and the region.”The KMC comprises seven integrated and comprehensive centres: the Executive Health Centre; the Spine & Joint Centre; the Pain Management, Rehabilitation, Korean Medicine Centre; the Fertility Centre; the Beauty and Wellness Centre; the Dental Centre; and the Primary Care Centre.During a media tour of the newly opened facility, general manager Dr al-Kalla highlighted that for the first time in the world, the KMC has brought four completely different Korean entities under one roof.“Asan Medical Centre will offer its major services at the KMC, and we have three affiliated sectors under the Asan Medical Centre,” he said.“The Asan Medical Centre offers the Executive Health Centre that comes with customised and comprehensive packages and offers personalised healthcare not offered anywhere in the world except in Korea, and now at the KMC,” Dr al-Kalla said. “It also offers the Spine & Joint Centre, which focuses on non-invasive techniques in addition to the stem cell therapy injections of the knee.”“Asan Medical Centre is also associated with our Fertility Centre, as it has perfected the way of addressing IVF (in vitro fertilisation) to increase the success rate of the procedure,” he continued.“They cater to the most complex cases with very high success rate.”The J K Medical Group, according to Dr al-Kalla, is ranked first in plastic surgery in Korea, focuses on the stem cell therapy, anti-aging and regenerative medicine and wellness.“Lime Tree Dental Hospital is our affiliated partner in our dental department, with focus on perfecting the orthodontics cosmetic technique which we have been able to replicate in our centre in the KMC,” he said. “This covers paediatrics to adult patients with our in-house state-of-the-art dental laboratory.”The official said that Seoul Ahnkang Hospital focuses on pain management.He said the technique of FIMS procedure for pain management is available nowhere except in Korea and now at the KMC.FIMS stands for Fluoroscopy Guided Interventional Musculoskeletal Adhesiolysis and Nerve Stimulation.“We have been able to bring technologies that were offered only in Korea and now available at the KMC, and for the first time in the region,” he said.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has initiated the establishment and hosting of the International Islamic Bioethics Association at the university, president Dr Ahmad M Hasnah said Tuesday.“In supporting the development and advancing of the Islamic bioethics’ knowledge generation and contribution, we are proud to announce the initiation of establishing and hosting of the International Islamic Bioethics Association at Hamad Bin Khalifa University,” he explained.Dr Hasnah was addressing the inaugural session of the 17th edition of the World Congress of Bioethics at Qatar National Convention Centre."We, at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, believe that no voice needs to be left out and discussions around bioethics must have all voices around the table, and that different perspectives have equal rights. As such, we have worked hard to achieve a more inclusive event, welcoming different voices and diverse approaches besides the usually dominant perspectives, in addition to providing opportunities for voices usually under represented from Asia, Africa, and South America,” he said.The official said that the main challenge facing humanity has always been an ethical one whether in science, medicine, AI, or global politics.“We live in a very dynamic world; ethical challenges are rising on multiple fronts and dimensions and are impacting humanity. No single point of view, philosophy, or approach should be the sole custodian of ethical discussions and policy formation. A more comprehensive multi views discussions need to be adopted” explained, Dr Hasnah.HBKU president said that the role of religion is a crucial one in the biomedical area.“Discussions shaping policies should not neglect people's beliefs as they are part of their lives and it is important to be captured in any policy creation. It is also, important to recognise that, heavenly religions were revealed to provide guiding principles for humanity irrespective of time and geological place providing an important basis to the ethical discussion away from trial and error or time bounded approach,” he continued.Dr Hasnah pointed out that there is a great wealth in Islamic civilisation when it comes to ethics. “ We need to have our voice and knowledge in that area well represented on the global scene and work with the global community to address the bioethical challenges,” he noted.He highlighted the leadership and vision of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser on the important role of ethics in the current and future life led to the creation of the first Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics in January 2012.“CILE is an integral part of that vision and plays an important role in leading the international platform in discussions and work related to Islamic ethics and we, at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, are committed to continue having CILE play a leading role in the generation of knowledge in the domain of Islamic ethics across different disciplines especially the area of bioethics and impact the local, regional, and global discussions,” he added.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), attended Tuesday the inauguration of the 17th World Congress of Bioethics organised by Hamad Bin Khalifa University in collaboration with World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).The three-day Congress, held for the first time in the Arab World and the entire Middle East, has brought together over 1,000 participants - including bioethicists, researchers, and stakeholders.Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, president, HBKU, said: “The role of religion is a crucial one in the biomedical area. Discussions shaping bioethical policies should not neglect people’s beliefs, as they are a part of their lives. It is important that they are captured in the development and creation of any policy.”The Congress is hosted by HBKU’s Research Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) in collaboration with WISH the global health initiative of QF. Sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, and the Primary Health Care Corporation, this edition of the Congress is organised with support from IAB.Following the address by HBKU president, a panel discussion involving experts from various organisations discussed different perspectives on bioethics. Sultana Afdhal, CEO WISH, Dr Voo Teck Chuan, communications officer of the International Association of Bioethics, Dr Mohammed Ghaly, professor / head of CILE, Dr Said Ismail, acting president and chief scientific and operations officer, Qatar Precision Health Institute, Dr Caesar Atuire, president, IAB, Dr Khalid Fakhro, chief research officer, Sidra Medicine and Dr Julian Savulescu, director, Centre for Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore took part in the discussion.The event provides platform for dialogue centred on vital issues in bioethics, especially in religious and cultural contexts. The event reinforced its theme of “Religion, Culture and Global Bioethics” with a special panel discussion, which featured members of IAB executive leadership delving into the significance of the theme alongside distinguished figures from across academic and bioethics research.WISH CEO Afdhal, said: “We are delighted to see months of hard work come to fruition as we witness the gathering of the world’s most renowned bioethicists and scholars in Qatar for 17th edition of the World Congress of Bioethics. Balancing international perspectives and evidence-based best practices in health with those rooted in the religious values and cultural traditions of Qatar, the Gulf region, and the broader Arab-Muslim world has been a cornerstone of our approach at WISH.”The Congress helped participants exchange insights on prominent and emerging topics in bioethics, including the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, how healthcare can be practiced safely in regions impacted by war and armed conflict, and public health ethics in light of Covid-19 and other pandemics. Prominent experts from the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia are participating in the discussions and offer regional perspectives on the wider field and issues such as disability, environmental, genetic, and genomic bioethics.Mohammed Ghaly, head of CILE and chair of the Congress, added: “This special edition of the World Congress of Bioethics gives us the opportunity to approach the study of bioethics from a unique context. Our discussions revolve around the understanding that our field is not only a secular discipline, but also one that acknowledges the importance of respecting diverse socio-cultural and religious-moral traditions.”