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Primary healthcare is the foundation for a healthy society and the cornerstone of the health system, HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari noted on Monday. In her opening address at the launch of the Doha Global South Health Policy Initiative, HE Dr al-Kuwari stated that primary healthcare provides comprehensive and holistic care not only for the curative aspects bust also for the preventative measures. “The health system in Qatar has, over the past decade, developed and strengthened primary healthcare services and infrastructure, with a focus on prevention and early intervention, with the aim of improving health outcomes for patients and enhancing the quality of life in general,” she said. “Strengthening primary healthcare services in the Global South is thanks to the unlimited support of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for the health sector in the country.” “Qatar’s globally recognised network of comprehensive primary healthcare services is a strong example of a well-organised medical care system in which the health sector stands ready, through state programmes to support low- and middle-income countries, for partnership and for the exchange of experiences and training,” HE Dr al-Kuwari added. The minister also referred to the challenges faced by several countries in the health sector due to various issues. “Despite the great improvements that have occurred over the past decades, obtaining primary healthcare, even basic health services, represents a challenge in a number of countries due to geographical distance, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of trained medical staff,” HE Dr al-Kuwari said. “The situation has deteriorated due to conflicts, environmental problems, lack of resources, and poor management and guidance that have made the situation worse.” As for the Doha Global South Health Policy Initiative, the minister hoped that “this initiative, which is fully in line with internationally agreed global health strategies, will be able to contribute collectively to strengthening primary healthcare in low- and middle-income countries, and invest in their infrastructure, workforce and resources to enable individuals and communities to take charge of their health and well-being.”

The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar has set the stage for taking India-Qatar relationship to much higher level across all domains of co-operation and laid the foundation to explore opportunities in some new areas, noted Vinay Kwatra, the Indian foreign secretary, yesterday.He was addressing the media in Doha along with India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) joint secretary (Gulf) Assem R Mahajan, joint secretary and official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal and Indian ambassador Vipul, on the sidelines of the two-day visit. Modi had an audience with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the Amiri Diwan yesterday and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. He also met with His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and on Wednesday met HE the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohmmed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani.Kwatra said that the Indian premier thanked His Highness the Amir for taking care of the welfare of the Indian community in Qatar and discussed various areas of collaboration between Qatar and India. “The prime minister had a successful visit to Qatar and it included discussions on co-operation in new areas such as space, technology and innovation. Both sides held delegation-level discussions and restricted talks. The discussions covered a wide array of topics including economic co-operation, investments, energy partnership, space collaboration, urban infrastructure, cultural bonds and people-to-people ties. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues,” explained Kwatra.“Both leaders held discussions on areas of co-operation including trade partnership, investment co-operation, and energy partnership, issues related to regional security, cultural affinity and people-to-people ties. The two leaders focused on the need for strategic investment and strategic partnership in the field of energy and technology. They also discussed the topics of national and international importance. The prime minister also invited His Highness the Amir to pay a visit to India,” continued Kwatra.According to the Indian foreign secretary, the bilateral trade between both the countries stands roughly at $20bn. “The discussions focused on strong investment co-operation that India and Qatar have; strong and vibrant Indian diaspora living in Qatar; the multifaceted partnership in energy which includes energy trade and energy supply chain contributing to the field of energy security,” he highlighted.Kwatra said that Indian prime minister during his meeting with His Highness the Father Amir congratulated him for his visionary leadership that has paved the way for the development of Qatar in the past decades and laying the foundation for strong India-Qatar bilateral relationship.His Highness the Father Amir commented that India and Qatar share an unwavering bond empitomised by mutual trust and co-operation and appreciated the role of Indian diaspora in Qatar. “On the sidelines of India Energy Week held in Goa recently, the two countries signed an agreement for 7.5mn metric tonnes per annum LNG from Qatar to India for two decades starting from 2028 onwards. This long-term partnership goes way back to 1999 and remains robust and future oriented,” added, the foreign secretary.

WOLF - the renowned German makers of watch winders, watches and storage boxes - is celebrating its 190th anniversary at the ongoing Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2024.Making its debut is Silver box, a tribute to founder Philipp Wolf I's original creations and a major attraction at the WOLF booth, part of Fifty One East pavilion.Marking WOLF's 190th anniversary, the silver-plated box has an engine-turned pattern, a LusterLoc treated deep blue ultrasuede interior and customisable removable inserts for watches, jewellery, and other valuables.A standout this year is the bespoke Churchill safe, tailored by WOLF artisans to the buyer's preferences in leather, hardware colour, and interior configurations. After being showcased at DJWE, the unique creation will be moved to Fifty One East for a 6-month display.The Silver box is inspired by the original silver boxes Philipp Wolf I crafted in his workshop in Hanau, Germany. The most beautiful box for the dresser or coffee table, featuring multiple inserts for the precious items. From watches and jewellery to cufflinks or pens, it is the perfect way to protect the legacies. It is silver plated with engine-turned exterior pattern and beautiful hidden piano hinged lid. It features multiple option jewellery or watch trays which can also be completely removed to use simply as a box.“To say that I am proud of what we, as a company, have achieved would be a big understatement. The business has continued for five generations, 190 years, with many ups and downs, but always with a singular vision of making great product and taking care of the people who work in the company. I am humbled by how hard they work and care, it is an honour to work with such dedicated people. The future looks very exciting...here’s to the next 190 years,” said, Simon Wolf, CEO, WOLF.For safeguarding the most precious belongings, WOLF stands as the most intelligent choice. While conventional safes merely shield the possessions, a WOLF safe or cabinet goes beyond, ensuring that the watches are not just secure but impeccably wound and ready to wear using patented watch winders, individually set and controlled by WOLF’s bluetooth app, which count turns per day, unlike others which merely estimate rotations using time. WOLF’s curated collection of safes and cabinets, meticulously designed to cater to the discerning individual, offer the choice of size, finish and interior configurations for the watches, jewellery and valuables.

TUDOR, the renowned Swiss watch maker is showcasing some of its latest models at the ongoing Doha Jewellery and Watches exhibition 2024.Situated at the Fifty One East pavilion, visitors can spot some of the most elegant time pieces by the renowned watch maker, including the new Black Bay 41 mm steel case as well as the TUDOR Royal that were unveiled at the Geneva's Watches & Wonders 2023.The Black Bay GMT 41 mm steel case features the latest technical and aesthetic evolution, highlighting its new whimsical opaline dial and TUDOR Royal with two more exciting dial variants joining the range: Chocolate brown and Salmon.Clients can also discover novelties from the past summer, including the new Pelagos FXD which pays tribute to decades of TUDOR watches on the wrists of US Navy divers. Complete with fixed strap bars, a titanium case, a high-performance Manufacture Calibre and a unidirectional elapsed-time rotating bezel, it comes as the ultimate modern “Milsub”.TUDOR has introduced the newest Black Bay, the latest technical and aesthetic evolution of the emblematic diving watch with a burgundy bezel, featuring evolved design elements, a “T-fit” clasp and is a master chronometer.The original Black Bay first launched in 2012 with a burgundy bezel returns in a third evolution foreshadowing the aesthetic and technical future of the line. This emblematic design in the TUDOR collection is another example of TUDOR's expert command of one of the industry's most demanding standards in terms of chronometry and resistance to magnetic fields. The Black Bay brings together cutting-edge watchmaking technology with design elements inspired by TUDOR’s nearly seven-decade heritage of making robust professional diving watches.TUDOR presents a new version of its Black Bay line in steel with a fixed bezel. All fitted with Manufacture Calibres, the models come in four sizes, with a five-link bracelet and clasp with rapid adjustment.The Black Bay 31/36/39/41 models bring a unique aesthetic to the Black Bay line. The curved cases feature a combination of finishes that elevates the watch in a contemporary fashion and offers a design language that slightly departs from the brand’s iconic tool watch spirit to embrace a sophisticated, versatile, unisex chic look and feel.With its integrated metal bracelet, notched or diamond-set bezel and automatic movement, the TUDOR Royal range is the epitome of versatile and affordable sport-chic, and now there are two more exciting dial variants joining the range: Chocolate Brown and Salmon.TUDOR has expanded the dial range of the Royal to include radial-brushed salmon and chocolate brown dials that offer an unexpected and exquisite aesthetic. The Royal range offers self-winding, sporty and chic watches with integrated bracelets that are as affordable as they are aesthetically sophisticated. Boasting first-class technical performance and a refined aesthetic, this line sits at the crossroads between classic and sports watches.

Fifty One East has introduced the latest addition to its portfolio, Annamaria Cammilli, at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) 2024, which concludes Sunday at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.With more than 40 years of expertise, the brand is a leader in jewellery making, embodying 100% Made in Italy production and exclusive designs. Rooted in goldsmith specialisation and inspired by Florence's artistry, Cammilli's identity thrives on unconditional excellence.Notably, Cammilli's jewels feature a unique finish, "Aetherna," blending shiny and silky effects for lasting depth. The Maison offers eight sophisticated shades of 18-carat gold, contributing to the worldwide acclaim of its creations. Sculptural forms define collections like Couture, Dune, and Firenze, showcasing Cammilli's recognisable, three-dimensional aesthetic.Cammilli's jewels stand out on the international scene for their strong artistic component, recognisable in the original design and unmistakable sculptural appearance of the volumes. A three-dimensionality emphasised by the special velvety finish of the gold surfaces Aetherna, giving life to unprecedented plays of light and shadow on the Maison's 8 sophisticated shades of gold.The expert hands of Cammilli's designers mold unprecedented shapes in wax, generating true miniature sculptures: this is the secret of the extraordinary three-dimensionality of Cammilli jewelry, of volumes that convey the illusion of constant movement.The first shape carved in wax is subsequently replicated through lost wax casting, which allows the sinuous shapes resulting from the hands of the creative team to be enhanced and imprinted in gold. In this process, sculptural skills, decades of experience, creative flair and meticulous attention to detail come together to create ever new and unexpected forms, the direct result of an artistic talent that cannot be reproduced or imitated.The three-dimensionality of the shapes is enhanced by the alternation between the polished surfaces and the special velvety finish of gold that gives the jewels an original and recognisable aesthetic impact. Aetherna is the exclusive gold finishing method that has always distinguished Cammilli's jewels: a secret recipe handed down over time, resulting in a silky appearance that remains unchanged over time.There are Cammilli's famous eight colours of gold. An expedient to expand the creative possibilities by playing with different shades, and at the same time allowing each woman to choose the nuance that best suits her personality and skin tone. The colors available are sophisticated and different from each other: eight unique shades, ranging from the timeless Yellow Sunrise to the unusual Black Lava.

Rolex, the most sought after luxury time machine, is showcasing one of its latest collections at the ongoing Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition 2024, at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre.Stationed at the Fifty One East pavilion, the new Rolex creations are the ones unveiled at Geneva's Watches & Wonders 2023. Highlighting the perpetual pursuit of excellence, the selection features the GMT-Master II. This elegant time piece is available this year in two new versions – yellow Rolesor and 18ct yellow gold – with a Cerachrom bezel insert in grey and black ceramic, an entirely new colour combination.Another splendid and stunning Rolex machine is the new Sky-Dweller, the watch for world travellers, which is now offered, in an 18ct white gold version on an Oysterflex bracelet and two new dial colours: mint green and blue-green.The Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II also signals the return of 18ct yellow gold to the model. The first is a yellow Rolesor version combining Oystersteel and yellow gold, whereas the second is crafted entirely in this precious metal.Firstly a two-colour, 24-hour graduated monobloc Cerachrom bezel insert in grey, a new shade and black ceramic. On the dial, the name ‘GMT-Master II’ is in a powdered yellow colour. These new versions are fitted on a Jubilee bracelet, equipped with an Oysterlock clasp and the Easylink comfort extension link.The new versions of the GMT-Master II are driven by calibre 3285, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, enabling it to display the date and an additional time zone in 24-hour format, as well as the hours, minutes and seconds. Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.With its two time zones and annual Saros calendar, the Sky-Dweller is an elegant and trusted companion for world travellers. The range has been updated with numerous enhancements illustrating the role that excellence plays even in the tiniest details.This watch is offered, in particular, in an 18ct white gold version on an Oysterflex bracelet. It is the first time that a version of the Sky-Dweller combines this precious metal, which is returning to the range, with the black elastomer bracelet. The other two variants unveiled introduce two new dial colours for the model. The white Rolesor version fitted on an Oyster bracelet, features a mint green dial, a colour reserved until now for the Datejust. And the variant fashioned in 18 ct Everose gold is endowed with a blue-green dial.The Sky-Dweller is now equipped with calibre 9002. An evolution of calibre 9001, this new movement includes some of the major innovations that Rolex has brought to its movements, including the Chronergy escapement. Calibre 9002 enables the Sky-Dweller to display the date and the month, as well as an additional time zone in 24-hour format, and the hours, minutes and seconds. The Sky-Dweller carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.

CHANEL, a French synonym for elegance and luxury, is displaying a number of its classic collections at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2024. Situated at Fifty One East pavilion, CHANEL presents Tweed de Chanel, an exquisite collection that translates the house’s lightweight, contrasting emblematic tweed into high jewellery, offering pieces as supple and fluid as the fabric that inspired them. In addition, CHANEL is presenting exquisite watches including the Mademoiselle Prive Pincushion Quilted Motif, Mademoiselle Prive Pincushion Embroidery Motif and the J12 Diamond Tourbillon Watch Caliber 5 from Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023. CHANEL has displayed its latest novelties from iconic fine jewellery and watch collections such as the Coco Crush, N°5, J12 and Premiere. CHANEL's showcase unfolds within a newly redesigned booth, inspired by its unique location on 18 Place Vendome, Paris. Another iconic collection is the CHANEL J12 Diamond Tourbilion that captivates with great brilliance and elegance while embodying the pinnacle of watchmaking artistry. The perfectly-cut solitaire diamond takes centre stage, gracefully rotating in harmony with the flying tourbillion movement meticulously crafted by CHANEL manufacture. An interplay of light unfolds as the diamond sparkles against the finish of the highly resistant ceramic case in luminous velvet white. The 18ct white gold fixed bezel adorned with 34 baguette-cut diamonds captivates with its brilliance while the hands are crown and are meticulously set with brilliant-cut diamonds. The dial, a canvas of shiny white ceramic openwork serves as a backdrop to the tourbillion cage embellished with 26 brilliant – cut diamonds.

Qatar’s healthcare entities are offering a lot more services and facilities like never before and the best emergency care, stated experts from various officials and experts from the public health care sector Wednesday at a media interaction.Opening the session, Nayef al-Shammari , the executive director of Media Relations, Hamad Medical Corporation ( HMC) noted that the National Healthcare Campaign ‘Where For Your Care?’ has been dedicated to raising public awareness about urgent and emergency medical services and how to access them.A total of 692,140 paediatric patients were provided emergency services in 2023, at the Paediatric Emergency Centres (PECs), said Dr Mohammed al-Amri, chairman of paediatrics and director of PECs at HMC.“There are four PECs under HMC: PEC- Al Sadd; PEC - Al Rayyan; PEC – Airport and PEC – Daayen. We serve approximately 2,000 emergency patients every day. PEC Al Sadd is the busiest emergency centre, seeing over 55% of all patients across PECs,” explained, Dr al-Amri.PECs provide medical care for emergencies of all priority levels to patients up to 14 years of age. “PECs stabilise any trauma/injury cases received and transfer them to Sidra Medicine. PECs provide support to child abuse/neglect cases and refers to the appropriate care facility as required. They are equipped to provide emergency consultations, observation facility and antibiotic administration. All support services are available in PECs to provide comprehensive care for patients,” added, Dr al-Amri.According to Prof Dr Ruben Peralta, deputy trauma medical director, HMC, the HMC Trauma Centre has been the national level 1 trauma centre in Qatar since 2007."The HMC Trauma Centre is a national and international recognised centre of excellence. It provides immediate medical, critical and surgical care to all citizens and residents of Qatar that sustain major injuries. The clinical staff -physicians, nurses and allied health care- are experts in the field of trauma and specially trained to manage severe and life-threatening injuries 24/7.”According to the official, HMC provides emergency services at seven HMC Emergency Departments across Qatar 24 hours a day for serious medical cases. They are: Hamad General Hospital Trauma and Emergency Centre; The Cuban Hospital; Al Khor Hospital; Women’s Wellness and Research Center; Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital; Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital and Al Wakra Hospital.Officials from Sidra Medicine as well as Qatar Red Crescent Society also highlighted the services provided by the facilities and how Qatar’s emergency care scenario has improved over the years providing excellent care and support for the needy.

Fifty One East, is attracting large number of visitors both from Qatar and other countries at its pavilion in the ongoing Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE) 2024, at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre.While the exhibition commemorates its 20th edition, Fifty One East, Qatar’s 'leading department store is celebrating its 75th anniversary reflecting on a legacy rooted in excellence that has cultivated enduring relationships built on mutual trust and respect with esteemed brands'.The signature retailer houses in its pavilion some of the leading world-renowned luxury brands such as Rolex, Chane, Boucheron, and Tudor among others and they are presenting their novelties in dedicated wings of the pavilion. The retailer has ensured that the visitors will be able to embark on a journey of timeless elegance and indulge in the allure of brands.Other trendy labels in the pavilion include global brands such as Annamaria Cammilli, Azza Fahmy, David Yurman, Falamank by Tarfa Itani, Genesia, J by JOELLE, L’Âme – a brand by Fifty One East, The Little Frog, WOLF and Yvan Tufenkjian.Bader al-Darwish, chairman and managing director of Fifty One East said, "The 20th edition of the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition signifies not just an event but a journey of evolution. We take immense pride in being part of this extraordinary exhibition from its inception. 2024 stands as a testament to 75 years of Fifty One East's unwavering commitment to setting the bar for luxury retail in Qatar. Rooted in heritage, the store's legacy mirrors the essence of timeless elegance, evolving through more than seven decades of sophistication.”“A heartfelt thank you to the organisers of DJWE for their meticulous efforts in curating an event that transcends boundaries, celebrating the global language of luxury and craftsmanship. We invite our dear clients to explore our pavilion which has been a hallmark of sophistication and a true reflection of the refined taste synonymous with Fifty One East and the brands we proudly represent,” he added.Situated at the centre of the exhibition, The Fifty One East pavilion stands as a beacon of impeccable taste, offering a fusion of incomparable luxury, personalised hospitality, and exceptional service. The event is expected to host large number of visitors from over 175 countries, presenting an opportunity to mingle with other jewellery aficionados, top designers, and a who’s-who of internationally renowned acting stars.DJWE 2024 runs from February 5 to 11 and is the regions’ premier watches and jewellery show that displays the most sought after luxury brands from around the world.

Boucheron is making its presence felt at the ongoing Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE) 2024 with some its latest and exquisite and stunning jewellery collections, enchanting and mesmersing the visitors.To mark the DJWE's 20th anniversary, Boucheron is presenting, for the first time in Qatar, a captivating assortment of rare heritage pieces inspired by the main themes the Maison holds dear - Art Deco, Nature, and Animaux de Collection, some dating back as far as the 1930s.Boucheron is showcasing, in its booth at the Fifty One East pavilion, one of its signature creations, the Question Mark necklace: a revolutionary design imagined in 1879 and the first high jewellery necklace without a clasp. Visitors have the opportunity to discover a piece designed in 2018 by creative director, Claire Choisne: the Lierre de Paris Question Mark necklace.For this edition of the DJWE, Boucheron is also presenting its iconic jewellery collections: Quatre, Serpent Bohème and Nature. Additionally, visitors can discover an incredible set from the 2023 Histoire de Style "Like a Queen" collection. Every January, Claire Choisne draws inspiration from the archives of Maison Boucheron and reinterprets them through her creative lens. In this collection, she pays tribute to a special piece from the Boucheron archives: a diamond and aquamarine double-clip brooch gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth when she turned eighteen in 1944.In 2020, Choisne, decided to take inspiration from this unique piece to compose a High Jewelry collection reinterpreting the famous Art Deco design through eighteen models. “Like a Queen” is a contemporary tribute to a style icon who marked two centuries.“Three years ago, when I first immersed myself in the Boucheron archives, I couldn’t get my mind off that pair of Art Deco brooches,” Choisne explains. “The severity and geometry of the Art Deco design, tempered by the softness and light blue hue of the aquamarines, always fascinated me. I was touched by the sentimental value of these brooches, which Elizabeth wore at pivotal moments in her reign.”Like a story told through eighteen chapters, “Like A Queen” transcends its initial objective to construct a full high jewelry collection based on a single piece and offers a glimpse of the true genius behind its design.Moreover, Boucheron invites guests to experience French art de vivre with an exclusive tea salon inspired by the Jardin d’Hiver, located in the Parisian boutique at 26 Place Vendôme. This space, situated outside entrance three, provides a delightful setting to savour a customised menu and welcome visitors during the exhibition’s working hours.

Qatar’s healthcare sector has grown significantly in recent years providing more options for the patients with emergency and urgent medical care conditions than ever before, according to information provided by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).These services are delivered across the public healthcare system such as Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) as well as other institutes.Other than the National Ambulance Service with a vast fleet, HMC offers seven emergency departments, five paediatric emergency centres, and the Urgent Consultation Service helpline to meet any emergency medical situation both for the citizens and the residents.PHCC operates 10 Urgent Care Units providing the service and five out of the 10 provide the service for both adults and paediatrics, within its primary health centres and the Urgent Consultation Service helpline.Sidra Medicine offers Paediatric Emergency Department (Public), Paediatric Urgent Care Centre (Private) and Women’s Obstetrics Triage and Urgent Care (Private). MoPH along with QRCS operates two Urgent Care Centres.HMC has launched a campaign ‘Where For Your Care?’ to bring together the key public health sector providers to work jointly to raise awareness of the services among the public and to use the emergency services judiciously. The campaign aims to improve the efficiency of the health sector by advocating correct use of available services and help patients receive the best possible medical care.With Qatar’s population has been growing steadily in the recent years and there are now about 3m people living in the country. It also throws a big challenge to meet the increased demand for all healthcare services, including emergency and urgent care. The expansion of capacity across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services has enabled to meet this increased demand and provide high-quality care to patients.With significant increase in the number of emergency and urgent care facilities in recent years, the campaign aims to remind the public to use various options other than the Ambulance Service in case of non-emergent and non-life threatening cases.It specifies that the Ambulance Service and Trauma & Emergency Centre provide life-saving care, should use a suitable urgent care facility. PHCC also has significantly expanded its urgent care provision in recent years with 10 units of 24-hour service.While choosing the right option for care enhances the treatment experience, it also helps to save the most critical care facility for others. HMC’s Emergency Departments have short wait times for patients with critical conditions.With the current campaign and the increase in the number of urgent care options, the healthcare sector is poised to provide the best care possible to the public.

Qatar's public healthcare sector has launched a national campaign ‘Where For Your Care’ to educate the public on the use of emergency and urgent healthcare services as over 20% of the calls to the Ambulance Department are for non-emergency services.“We noticed that 20% of the calls received daily through the National Command Centre asking for Ambulance Service, are for non-emergency cases. Such cases do not require any emergency response that the ambulances are speeding through the roads, disturbing the traffic and the people on the road and moving with the Priority One response,” said Ali Darwish, assistant executive director, Emergency and Scheduled Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).Darwish, speaking at the launch of the campaign Wednesday, explained that the campaign aims to highlight the wide range of emergency and urgent care services across HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine, and Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).“We have launched the campaign to redirect all the calls which are non-emergency and non-life threatening such as minor trauma or other illnesses to other facilities in the primary health care centres across the country. Knowing all the steps during the call is a good method for all call takers and the user to understand and build up a good picture about the call. Once we realise the call and understand the priority, we will be able to redirect them accordingly to the nearest facility,” Darwish said.The Ambulance Service, which provides life-saving care to patients with critical conditions, is to be used for situations such as heart attack, stroke; seizure, choking, chest pain, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing and severe allergic reaction.“Through the campaign, we aim to help patients make the best choice for their medical care needs. So the public will understand the message and will play a big role in this campaign. This will ensure that ambulance service is used for emergency services,” added, the official.A website, www.whereforyourcare.qa, also has been launched to have all the information regarding emergency and urgent care in Qatar in one dedicated place.The campaign brings together the key public health sector providers such as Ministry of Public Health, HMC, PHCC, Sidra Medicine, and QRCS to work jointly to raise awareness of services. Each provider offers various emergency and urgent care services Qatar’s population.The campaign focuses on five key points that are critical to ensuring an ambulance reaches the patient as quickly as possible to deliver live-saving treatment. They are: Dial 99 immediately, Know your location; Answer all questions; Follow all instructions and Give way to ambulances.The campaign encourages the public to save ambulances for emergencies. and is aimed at reducing the volume of non-emergency 999 calls to the Ambulance Service. ‘Where For Your Care?’ aims to educating the public on the types of symptoms and conditions to call an ambulance as well as alternative treatment options for cases that are not life-threatening. The campaign focuses on improving the efficiency of the health sector by advocating correct use of available services and help patients receive the best possible medical care.

The Indian community in Qatar marked the 75th Republic Day of their country Friday with various programmes. Ambassador Vipul hoisted the national flag, followed by the rendition of the National Anthem by a large gathering at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC).Indian schools also organised separate functions at their premises to mark the occasion and raised the Indian tricolor in the presence of the students, staff and parents.A large crowd was present at ICC where the orgainsers had arranged a short and lovely cultural fiesta. Several office bearers of the apex bodies of the community, prominent community members as well as a number of invitees took part in the programme.Ambassador Vipul, addressing the gathering, read out excerpts from the address of the Indian President, Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of the 75th Republic Day of the country.In her address Marmu said: “The nation is in the early years of Amrit Kaal, the period leading to the centenary of Independence. This is the time of an epochal transformation. We are given a golden opportunity to take the country to new heights. Contribution from every citizen will be crucial to achieve our goals. For this, I will appeal to all my fellow citizens to abide by our fundamental duties enshrined in the constitution.”“Republic Day is an occasion to recall our foundational values and principles. When we contemplate any one of them, we are naturally guided to the rest. Democracy implies diversity of culture, beliefs and practices. Celebrating diversity implies equality, which is upheld by justice. Freedom is what makes it all possible. The totality of these values and principles is what makes us Indian. Guided by the sagacity of Dr B R Ambedkar, the spirit of the constitution, imbued with these foundational values and principles, has led us invariably on the path of social justice to put an end to all kinds of discrimination,” she continued in her address.The envoy congratulated the Indian community for their hard work and dedication and highlighted the community’s role in taking the bilateral relations between India and Qatar forward. “The bilateral relations between Qatar and India are thriving and Qatar is an important partner for India. While India imports LNG from Qatar, India’s export to Qatar is also very important. Indians in Qatar have been able to stand together and support all the noble ventures,” said, Vipul.He also thanked His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Father Amir for their continuous support to India and noted that he could hear very positive remarks in his short stint so far about the community from various leaders of the country.“Indian community has been working hard and shown great ability to stand together. Indian students in Qatar are doing very well and they are very important cultural ambassadors of the country. Indian embassy is always a welcoming place for the entire Indian diaspora in Qatar and be assured that it will be your home away from home,” added, the ambassador.The programme included several cultural programmes by children. The ambassador offered floral tributes to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi at the beginning of the function. He also cut a cake with the children and others to celebrate the occasion.

An academic from Qatar Foundation has emphasised the significant role of technology for students’ communication in special education while highlighting the involvement of parents within this learning process.Matthew Campion, director of Renad Academy, QF noted the importance of technology in enhancing education, ahead of the International Day of Education observed Wednesday through a series of activities and sessions at Education City.Campion explained: “Renad Academy, which supports students with autism and their families, is committed to integrating innovative technology within the classroom, while prioritising the involvement of parents within this learning process. The technology for special education is fundamental for children in terms of their communication and their access to learning.”Campion said that many of the children at Renad Academy are preverbal. “So they can use the technology to communicate, and this gives them the opportunity to have a voice, to be able to speak, and to share their needs and their feelings. The use of interactive applications or games to access the learning world and the wider world is vital for all our children,” he said.The academic noted that the institute is keen to integrate technology into the educational process in effective and innovative ways, and use a variety of applications and programmes that give the students access to educational resources and enhance their academic experience using devices such as iPads and Chromebooks, as well as interactive boards, to facilitate the learning and communication process.The director stressed the role of parents in this learning journey. “A big part of the learning technology is that we train the parents to support their children. Our team, especially the speech and language therapists, work with children on a particular application, but they've also created training modules, like webinars or screencasts, to guide parents through a step-by-step journey,” he said.“We pay special attention to continuous communication with parents. We hold face-to-face meetings with them regularly to review their children's needs and consider the resources available to them. By cultivating these relationships with parents, we have been able to increase communication, which has facilitated ongoing conversations about what is appropriate for each case,” he pointed out.“Concerns were also raised about the excessive use of electronic devices at home, and their impact on children’s behaviour. We provide support and guidance to parents through workshops and collaborations with different organisations. We work to develop positive strategies, allowing technology to be used more selectively and effectively in the educational process,” he said and highlighted about the need for distinguishing between the use of technology for educational and entertainment purposes.Campion stated that with collaboration between school and parents, and the technology used, students can express themselves more effectively which reflects the transformative power of technology in education and the importance of the role of the family and school in supporting student development.“I call on all parents to focus on their children's abilities and uniqueness rather than on their disability. We know that not every child will be able to go to work, go to university, or live independently, but each of our children can achieve at different levels, and, therefore, technology will be very important because having this ability to communicate first and foremost is the primary need. Each child must communicate to advocate for his or her own needs,” concluded Campion.

A Qatar-based researcher has highlighted two effective treatment options for diabetic kidney disease (DKD), noting that they are able to provide better long term outcomes.Mohamad M Alkadi at the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Hamad General Hospital, as well as Transplant Nephrology Fellow at Weill Cornell Medicine New York in an article in Qatar Medical Journal and featured on Qscience.com, describes sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) along with nonsteroidal MRA as effective treatment options for DKD patients.Alkadi highlights that given the overwhelming evidence of their renal and cardiac efficacy and safety, both SGLT2i and nonsteroidal MRA are now part of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes and the American Diabetes Association guidelines.“These guidelines recommend using SGLT2i as a first-line therapy in DKD patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( eGFR) ≥ 20 mL/min/1.73 m2 with or without albuminuria. They also recommend using nonsteroidal MRA called Finerenone in DKD patients with eGFR ≥ 25 mL/min/1.73 m2 and moderately to severely increased albuminuria. Thus, in the current era physicians have more treatment options to manage DKD patients leading to better long-term renal and cardiac outcomes,” he explains.Pointing out that both these treatment options have emerged recently Dr Alkadi says “From 2016 onwards, numerous studies showed that a new class of antidiabetic medications, SGLT2i, exhibits a synergistic effect in terms of renal and cardiac outcomes in DKD patients. In late 2020, a new nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist MRA, Finerenone was shown to improve renal and cardiac outcomes in DKD patients synergistically.”According to the researcher, since early 1990s, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers have been the mainstay of treatment for DKD patients, given their proven renoprotective, cardioprotective, and antiproteinuric effects. However, physicians did not have much to offer patients once they maximised the doses of these medications other than controlling their blood pressure and blood sugar and applying lifestyle modifications.“In 2019, Canagliflozin became the first SGLT2i to receive the US Food and Drug Administration approval for treating DKD patients. In 2020, a landmark study in managing CKD patients, was published. It was the first study to assess the efficacy and safety of the SGLT2i, Dapagliflozin, in adult CKD patients with eGFR as low as 25 mL/minute/1.73 m2, with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus,” he notes.The use of Dapagliflozin resulted in a significant relative risk reduction (39%) of a composite primary outcome of decline in eGFR ≥ 50%, end-stage kidney disease, and death from renal or cardiovascular causes in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients.In late 2020, Finerenone was shown to improve renal and cardiac outcomes in DKD patients.The FIDELIO-DKD study included adult DKD patients with an eGFR as low as 25 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 and moderately to severely increased albuminuria.According to him, the use of Finerenone in DKD patients resulted in a significant risk reduction rate (18%) of a primary composite outcome of kidney failure, a sustained decrease in eGFR of ≥40% from baseline, or death from renal causes. It also resulted in a significant risk reduction rate (14%) for a secondary composite outcome of death from cardiovascular causes, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or hospitalisation for heart failure.

A group of eight students from Palestine, whose education got disrupted due to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, were welcomed at the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) Wednesday at a ceremony.They were received by UDST president Dr Salem al-Naemi, Education Above All (EAA) Foundation CEO Fahad al-Sulaiti and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs' General Directorate of Endowments director general Dr Sheikh Khaled al-Thani.In collaboration with EAA through its Al Fakhoora Programme, and with the support from the General Directorate of Endowments, UDST is providing these students with an opportunity to continue their education in Qatar’s leading applied university.“We have already enroled them to different programmes and as a university we extend our support to them and welcome them to our programmes," Dr al-Naemi told Gulf Times."We want to make sure that they get the education that they have missed. We hope that they will graduate from here in flying colours and go back to Palestine to rebuild their country,” he said.Dr al-Naemi explained : “ We are open to accepting more students from Palestine as some of the universities in Gaza have been destroyed totally. If the students from Palestine are coming, we will be able to admit them in more numbers in the Fall semester. We are working with EAA and those students interested in following a technical programme that we offer, we will be glad to admit them. We are providing them all the support such as academic support, cognitive support as well as academic support while EAA takes care of the financial support for the students to complete their studies.”‏‏Talal Alhathal, executive director of Al-Fakhoora programme noted: ‏"It is our honour to partner with the University of Doha for Science and Technology in providing educational opportunities for Palestinian students affected by the crisis in Gaza. We firmly believe in the power of education to transform lives, and through this collaboration, we are committed to enabling these young men and women to continue their academic journeys, equipping them with the tools and knowledge necessary to build a better future for themselves and their communities."Sheikh Dr Khalid, affirmed that the scholarship programme is in collaboration and partnership with EAA and partner universities. “The initiative aims to support students who have discontinued their studies and to overcome obstacles for them to complete their educational journey in Qatar through the partner universities. This will significantly impact their future lives when they return to their countries and contribute to building their community through their academic achievements,” he added.‏The newly admitted students will have the opportunity to join UDST's wide range of programmes, spanning engineering, IT, business, and health sciences.

A total of 100 students from Palestine will reach Qatar within six months to continue and complete their higher education in various universities in the country, an official from Education Above All ( EAA) Foundation told Gulf Times Wednesday.“After the launch of the ‘Rebuilding Hope for Gaza initiative’, we started to bring students from Gaza to Qatar," explained Talal Alhathal, executive director, Al-Fakhoora programme, EAA.He was speaking on the sidelines of a welcome ceremony for the first batch of students from Palestine who were admitted in the University of Science and Technology (UDST). These students had to leave Palestine due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.“We are providing them hope to continue and complete their degrees from where they have stopped. We have already got eight students to UDST and are in the process of application review to bring the remaining students to study here in the universities in Qatar. Some of them will be admitted in UDST while others will be in other universities depending on the availability and the field of interest of the students,” explained, Alhathal.The official noted that the first batch of students has started their academic journey with UDST and others will follow soon. “We have processed (the papers) to bring 20 more in the coming days. The remaining will be processed once all the documentation and other formalities are completed. We are preparing the logistics for them to come here,” he continued.According to Alhathal, currently EAA is focusing more on the national universities to admit the students from Gaza. He said: “We focus on UDST and Qatar University to admit most of the students. Medical students will be admitted at Qatar University while engineering, IT and other technical programme students will be given admission in UDST. We are also in discussion with Qatar Foundation universities (to know) if some of the students can be admitted.”The Al-Fakhoora director highlighted that the programme aims to provide several support services also to the students.“We are providing psycho-social support, trauma support, facilitate education at some of the undamaged facilities in Gaza besides the opportunity for the students to study in universities as well as in schools outside Palestine. We are focusing on well qualified students based on their academic strength, GPA and merit . We hope that with our support, these students will be able to complete their education and rebuild Gaza and Palestine for better,” added, Althathal.

There has been a significant growth in the pro-Palestinian views on alternative and social media, noted some experts at a panel discussion organised Monday in Doha by the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict crossing over 100 days, the discussion titled ‘Shaping Public Opinion on Gaza: Disinformation, Propaganda and Alternative Narratives,’ highlighted how social media and alternative platforms have been effectively supporting the pro-Palestine views and how many of the mainstream media are using disinformation and misinformation as well as propaganda to give a wrong picture about the realities on the ground in Palestine.Opening the conversation, Dima Khatib, managing director AJ+ Channels, said: “There has been a 277% growth in our audience engagement on Palestine since October 7 until January 13. We have published 11,579 videos until Sunday in four different languages. We had made link between the 'Black Lives Matter' movement in the US and the Palestinian movement in 2016. That gave our audience the chance to understand the story of Palestine despite all the narrative that come to deny that perspective.“AJ+ has the Palestine DNA and we have treated Palestine as a core issue throughout our programmes. We had already introduced our audience to the dehumanisation of Palestinians. We also had made sure that the entire Palestine history is disclosed to the public so that people could understand the real nature of the conflict and the reasons behind it,” Khatib explained.Playing several videos that were used to counter the anti-Palestine narrative, Khatib said that the alternative narratives were successful in conveying the true sense on the ground and made sure that the Palestinian story reached across the globe.Showing the video of a father carrying his son and running through the battlefield, she said that it had a huge impact on the world to understand the real picture of the ground realities in Gaza. “ With such engagement, we could see that Arab audience were really interested to know what the Israelis were going through. I had never seen such responses and appetite from the Arab audience to understand what Israelis think and how they react to it,” she noted.Khatib also highlighted that alternative media gave the voice to the Palestinians with TikTok leading the pack with the highest pro-Palestinian content followed by YouTube.Ibrahim Abusharif, associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar and a panelist in the discussion, said that western media has been using certain terms in very selective way such as ‘terrorism’ associated with certain sections of the society.“Words definitely matter and context also matters equally. Lack of contextualisation leads to misinformation and destroys the right picture of the event. Therefore, in many of the mainstream media, you don’t get the right information and there has been many discrepancies. During the current Palestine conflict the grip of Western media has been loosened and there has been a greater shift towards the alternative media,” said Abusharif.Another panelist, Marc Owen Jones, non-resident senior fellow, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, noted that misinformation and disinformation have been widely used by pro-Israeli sources to discredit the Palestinian movement citing the example of a manipulated video, in which a nurse pretending to be a Palestinian, blaming Hamas for not allowing people to go out of Al Shifa Hospital.“ Often we cannot prove the intent behind such videos as we don’t know the people who have come out with such content. However, such content is produced with the deliberate intent to spread false information to cause harm to others. Another aspect is the propaganda with the aim to dehumnaise Palestinians as if Palestinian lives do not matter,” he added.The discussion was moderated by Sahar Khamis, nonresident senior fellow at Middle East Council on Global Affairs.