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Indian embassy will reach out to every Indian in Qatar through an app for its services as well as a call centre with the support of the apex bodies, ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal announced Tuesday. “We are going to launch a virtual services app so that every Indian in Qatar is connected with the embassy and the government and you will get your services at your doorsteps. We are also working to set up a call centre,” he told a community gathering on the occasion of the 72nd Republic Day of India at a special event at the embassy premises. “Each one of the Indians in Qatar can call and get their grievances registered and addressed at the click of a mouse or through a phone call. With the support of the apex bodies we will take it forward,” continued the envoy. “I assure all the Indian nationals that the embassy is your home and we are at your service 24x7. On this day, we pledge that we will reach out to every Indian national in Qatar using technology as well as physically to extend services to their doorsteps. All the community members are important for the country. With the support of the apex bodies and other community organisations, we will reach out to every Indians and extend the services,” explained, Dr Mittal. He also disclosed that Qatar's Ministry of Public Health has expressed interest in partnering with India for Covid-19 vaccine. “Today I had a call from a Ministry of Public Health official showing interest in partnering with India in terms of vaccine supply between India and Qatar. This is also a proof of strong India-Qatar relationship and how we can work together.” He noted that the recent visit of the Indian external affairs minister was on the commitment of the leadership of both the countries to strengthen the strong relationship between both the countries. “In 2021, we are confident that the relationship between Qatar and India will achieve new landmarks.” The envoy complimented the community members and praised their efforts during the Covid-19 peak times in Qatar and their efforts in ensuring that all the Indians were provided with the essentials during the trying times. “Indians in Qatar have stood up to the morals and principles as highlighted by the President of India in his Republic Day message especially during the difficult times of Covid-19. Each member of the community has come up to help others selflessly and special mention must be made to the apex bodies and other community organisations. These efforts ensured that essential commodities reached the needy including medicines,” he highlighted. “Similarly, there were selfless repatriation efforts during the period for helping the people return to India and reunite with their families. They also reached out to the workers in the labour camps,” he said. As for the regional developments in the recent times, Dr Mittal said that 2021 has brought in a lot new hopes and positive developments. “The developments in the region are very welcome and it is a positive step for the entire region, for Qatar, for India and for Indians in Qatar and the region. India welcomes these developments.” The ambassador also praised the efforts of the Indian medical fraternity in Qatar in their fight against Covid -19 and in containing it. He also complimented the efforts taken by the educators in helping the students in the country continue their education during the pandemic.

On the International Day Of Education, six students from Qatar Foundation (QF) partner universities have shared their experiences of a new normal in teaching and learning, concerns about future career path and their aspirations. Speaking about the transition to remote learning, Muna Almasri, a Palestinian student of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, said: “With online schooling, studying became a largely independent task. Although it affected our social life, it taught us discipline and productivity through setting routines, which taught us how to prioritise and perform to the best of our ability. “I believe this form of independence is a crucial skill upon entering the workforce, and it is of great benefit to learn it now.” “Although the hospital and clinical visits we were accustomed to for training and assessment purposes have been on pause since the start of the pandemic, they are slowly being reintegrated in a way that still prioritises the safety of students and patients, and this is restoring our confidence,” she continued. ?or?e Popovi?, a Serbian student majoring in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, believes the shift in learning methods has actually positively affected the potential experience. “This shift to a remote setting, where obtaining help is an elongated multi-step process, has actually pushed me to become more independent and resourceful when encountering countless minor challenges that I would usually consult friends or faculty for,” he said. I believe this ability to work independently and efficiently will undoubtedly benefit my work and early career.” “This expectation that technology will play a significant role in shaping our society has only been further affirmed by the events of the past year,” he explained, “and I am even more excited and eager to start practising and applying myself to solving the continuously growing set of problems in computer science.” For Bandar al-Abdulla, a Qatari student majoring in chemical engineering at Texas A&M University at Qatar, the shift in learning during the pandemic has been "draining". He feels, “The lack of human interaction and seeing your peers as names displayed on a screen can be demotivating at times. I also think that our presentation skills might be affected in the online setting; in normal circumstances, presentations would be in front of an audience and you have all eyes on you, with the need to speak effectively and utilise the proper body language and gestures. But because presentations are now online, and facing the crowd is online, it gives a sense of comfort that will not be there during the real deal.” Meanwhile, Sara Lidetoft, a Swedish student who is majoring in international politics at Georgetown University in Qatar, feels that she has missed the classroom experience more than anything. She said, “Although I’m extremely grateful for online tools, which have enabled us to come this far in adapting to the pandemic situation, I feel that the class doesn’t really ‘come alive’ when it’s online. “I also think the pandemic has encouraged us to think creatively about how we work and communicate; it has opened our eyes to new possibilities of connecting online, and I am positive that this will be beneficial to me as I start my career.” Similarly, Arya Mainali, a third-year student majoring in Media Industries and Technology at Northwestern University in Qatar, said: “The shift to an online environment and the fact that education is no longer limited to a physical space is actually quite impressive. There is a lot of room for improvement in the way we do virtual learning, and I am optimistic about a future where learning from a distance will be as fruitful as taking classes in-person.” And Naima Almajdobah, a Jordanian who is studying graphic design at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, believes this year brought her out of her comfort zone and made her a better person. “Never underestimate the amount of patience and self-determination this generation has. We are fighting against a world pandemic, digging deep into the majors we love, working creatively to change and adapt to new ways of learning and, against all odds, aspiring to a bright future,” she added.    

Two academic from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) have shared their thoughts on how education can help eradicate violent extremism as the International Day of Education is marked January 24. Dr Leslie A Pal, founding dean of the College of Public Policy at HBKU, and Dr Susan L Karamanian, dean of the College of Law at HBKU, explain the role education can play in tackling this issue and in promoting peace and development. According to Dr Pal, violent extremism is the result or effect of a host of factors and to get to the root causes is the way to tackle it. “That takes you to economic and social factors that create the conditions where people will turn to violence. We have tried to understand the economic circumstances that induce extremism, and persistent unemployment is a key one. We have tried to understand the role culture, ideology and misrepresentations of religion play, and so we have focused on populism. We have tried to figure out how people form their images of the world, the kind of news they rely on, especially through social media,” he said. Dr Pal notes that higher education institutions are far removed from the conditions of economic poverty and social distress and they mainly focus on teaching and research, not on solving social problems or on advocacy or activism. “However, higher education institutions still enjoy high levels of trust, precisely because they are somewhat removed from the front lines. Their research mission gives them the capacity to think more deeply about violent extremism and the best ways to tackle it. I think there are opportunities here, especially in working with partners and NGOs, to do a great deal of good over the longer term,” he explained. Dr Pal, who has participated in the ‘Educate to Eradicate’ (E2E) forums at HBKU, says that if E2E is to be effective, it has to be threaded into educational policies, official development assistance (ODA) policies and global co-operation frameworks. He commented, “On the educational front, terrific work is under way on developing tools for students and teachers at all levels. Regarding ODA, we have to deal with the reality that some species of violent extremism are bred in very poor and destitute countries, and so our aid to those countries has to incorporate an E2E component. Finally, violent extremism is confronting us as a global community. The UN and other international agencies know this, and are working hard to better coordinate their efforts.” Meanwhile, Dr Karamanian maintains that education is essential in preventing violent extremism. She says, “Through education, individuals with differing social backgrounds and views of the world come together to better understand societal objectives. A classroom in which content focuses on respect for others and personal responsibility, as well as the development of analytical and problem-solving skills in a global environment, enables each person understand and formulate a view of self that has a benevolent purpose.” According to her, universities typically foster a dynamic environment, one that encourages community members to question and engage in open debate. “Key to achieving this mission is the right of each member to engage in free speech. Yet the right to free speech, when used to promote extremism, could undermine a meaningful sense of security on campus and even lead to violence. In the ideal world, even the most insulting words would cause a listener to question and reject the message, which itself is a learning experience,” she highlighted. Dr Karamanian feels that educators should instill in students the ability to discern fact from fiction and to think critically and independently. “In today’s world, endless messages, readily available on many online sources, have the potential to shape the narrative. Educators need to develop in their students the communication skills, both verbal and written, to be effective advocates. Finally, students must have a strong understanding of history,” she concluded.    

A new campaign by Qatar Foundation (QF) aims to reimagine education and provide endless possibilities for learners, researchers and innovators among others by helping them become change-makers. 'Students of Change' campaign will continue for several months, focusing on helping learners become architects of change and envisage an ecosystem of huge opportunities by constantly designing new avenues. The campaign primarily focuses on three distinct groups: Youth of Change, Innovators of Change, and Partners of Change. In the fast emerging global scenario, especially in the aftermath of a severe pandemic that has ravaged the humans so immensely and a disruptor of so many conventional practices in many areas including education, the new campaign is likely to strike a chord with many. The campaign also encourages all those who are passionate about making a change to get involved in the whole process as it highlights, “In our rapidly evolving world, change is the only constant. It’s in our hands to be a part of it and help shape it.” “The need to challenge humanity’s ways of doing things has been several years in the making, and now that change has become inevitable. The question is: what will your role be in this change? Will you be a footnote in history or will you play a role in shaping it? Whatever you are, and whatever you do, you can be a student of change and shape our world for the better,” inspires the campaign. QF, through several visuals and short videos have been sending out the message over its social media platforms for over a week to stir the young minds to ponder over and think differently for a change, it envisages. It invites everyone to be part of the change; be that a student pursuing a degree, a researcher in a laboratory, an aspiring innovator, an artist, a community activist, or just a member of society who wants to play their part. “Our educational offerings are built to disrupt traditional ways of learning, and provide customised and innovative learning opportunities that empower the youth to think beyond the obvious,” runs the campaign. The project also aims to make people innovators of change. “We are triggering transformative change by curating big ideas and turning them into breakthroughs. This happens through our platforms in research and innovation, such as in artificial intelligence and precision medicine, as well as through our community initiatives focused on environmental sustainability and social engagement,” it says. The programme also invites everyone to come together and become partners of change. “When we come together to bring change, our reach and impact can be amplified. The spirit of collaboration is at the core of our organisation, and we are always partnering with organisations and institutions from around the world to facilitate the transfer of ideas and jointly realise them.” Finally, the campaign offers opportunities for young learners to join QF’s schools and universities; helps researchers and innovators to test, become part of its research, development, and innovation ecosystem or those who want to be part of a community that is striving to make a positive impact in the world around, to explore the community development programmes.    

Prominent physician Dr Mohan Thomas has encouraged everyone to take the Covid-19 vaccine as it provides freedom for mobility and protection for the community. “We were like caged birds for several months. Today as different vaccines are rolled out to the humanity, we see light at the end of the tunnel. “While 21 days ago I took my first dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, the second dose was taken yesterday,” said the long-term practising ENT specialist who is involved in many socio-cultural activities. Dr Thomas complimented the authorities for the excellent arrangements for vaccination in the country.“We were overwhelmed by the excellent arrangements by the Ministry of Public Health for rolling out the vaccination programme; right from sending us messages followed by personal calls, meticulously recording allergy status and contraindications for vaccination and the extreme care given during the procedure. “It is quite magnanimous of the government to provide this facility free of cost to all residents in the country,” he explained. Allaying any fears about the safety of the vaccine given in the country, the physician said: “The Pfizer BioNTech mRNA Covid -19 Vaccine, being administered here is a two shot vaccine taken 21 days apart. The Pfizer vaccine has showed an efficacy of 95% at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 infection, starting from seven days after the second dose is administered. “The vaccine contains the active ingredient tozinameran. This intramuscular injection has got the modified mRNA encoding a mutated form of spike protein of Sars Cov-2.”  Highlighting the need for getting the vaccine, Dr Thomas said: “Unlike other vaccinations, which are taken only for the welfare of the recipient, Covid-19 vaccinations aim at protecting our entire community, our family, our friends and anyone we come into contact, by protecting us and breaking chain. “This is not only a personal choice but also a decision for family and friends and an act of social cause.”  According to Dr Thomas, news of the death of 33 vaccinated people in Norway had been a concern but he pointed out that they were reported to be fragile and chronically ill senior citizens. He also felt that the vaccination certificate can become a global mandatory document for any traveller. “With Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive expressing his belief that the Covid-19 vaccination certificate may become the new norm for boarding airplanes or entering countries, the new world travel will proceed with this vaccination certificate as a global mandatory document for any traveller. “This vaccination may also in the future avoid the quarantine for travel, which poses such a big hindrance and threat for contamination with quarantining facilities becoming a hub for the virus spread,” he said. Dr Thomas emphasised that freedom is the oxygen of life.“Freedom to express, freedom to travel and so on but the Covid-19 tied us all to one place with no freedom to see loved ones, to give the last hug to the departed near ones or to attend a historic function in the family. “We missed a lot in the last one year.  “This pandemic has given us many lessons, the most important being joint effort to bring about a change in the world. Let us join together to bring the change, be a part of this movement and bring back our normal lives to our future. Let us do this and let us fly again, free from the binds clung to our wings,” added Dr Thomas.

For 19-year-old Sameeha Junaid, a former student of Ideal Indian School (IIS), it is a dream come true. Aspiring to be a writer from the age of 10, Sameeha has come out with a collection of 50 English poems titled ‘One world, One life , One you, Be you’ that takes the readers to her world of dreams and an emotional display of her willpower and determination. Having lost her father a few years back, the book is a tribute to him, who was her inspiration and torchbearer. Currently, an undergraduate pharmacy student, Sameeha graduated from IIS in 2018 and envisages life from a different perspective with her soulful rendering of the world in her   Sameeha Junaid poems. She has a well-matured and controlled attitude towards life as can be seen in one of her poems, “Cuddled up with my soul since birth, my heart pounds as it heals all my wounds,” reflecting on all divergent emotions stacked up in a human being. The book was released at a recent function held at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) where most of the Indian community leaders as well as IIS officials were present. IIS principal Syed Shoukath Ali and school president Dr Hassan Kunhi released the book along with a large number of Indian Apex body officials and other dignitaries. Outgoing president of ICC, A P Manikantan, ICC president elect P N Baburajan, and ICBF president-elect Ziad Usman were present on the occasion. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee for 2020 and president-elect of Indian Sports Centre Dr Mohan Thomas and the Advisory Board chairman of ICC K M Varghese joined the ceremony online. Sameeha’s book has already attracted readers from various corners of the world for its positive approach and realistic narrations. Being a girl of dreams and explorer of self, Sameeha has been wandering in her poems over the inner landscape of the soul – a rare and insightful experience as a teenager. She is an exponent of creativity and positive thinking and believes the greatest thing we can do in this life is to strengthen people around us. In her poems, the young poetess highlights that the mind has the capacity to overcome anything if we empower it. She excels as a motivator, dreamer and a pioneer of creative feelings. In another poem, she says "you can be anything if you can redeem yourself from the evils of ego and arrogance." Sameeha is also an Instagram blogger. She shares optimistic thoughts, mental health awareness and the value of pain that strengthens the self. She can be reached on Instagram @stalwartgirlcreates. The book published by Kerala-based epublica is available on Amazon.

* Punarjani Qatar, a philanthropic community organisation affiliated with Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) has been at the forefront of helping the needy Punarjani Qatar, a philanthropic community organisation affiliated with Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) has been at the forefront helping the needy and low-income members of Indian community in the country. They have been providing medical, legal and financial assistance and support for the past several years. “We are committed to the service of our community. Our volunteers never spare any efforts in assisting people in difficulties. With a dedicated team of hardworking volunteers, we aim to make every gloomy face happy with new hope, new lease of life. That is Punarjani,” said, Govind, co-ordinator of Punarjani Qatar and the one who is leading the humanitarian efforts of the organisation. “We have been regularly visiting hospitals under Hamad Medical Corporation. We also co-ordinate to provide financial assistance to the needy and low-income people; provide moral support for people in prison and co-ordinate their release from jail. Additionally, we are providing travel assistance for people at the deportation centre with the support of the Indian embassy and Qatar authorities,” he said. Govind noted that Punarjani was the first organisation in Qatar to make arrangements to transfer a critical patient on ventilator to an Indian hospital. “He was accompanied by a medical team consisting of a doctor, a nurse and an assistant. Thereafter, we have repatriated nearly two dozens of patients who were in coma or critically ill and also for people who needed medical assistance at their native place in India. All this could be done with the constant support of Indian embassy, ICBF, HMC and community well-wishers,” explained the official. He also highlighted that Punarjani provides many low-income patients at hospitals, especially those suffering from cancer or fractures with medical equipment, medicines and even financial assistance. He said the organisation has been reporting community issues to the Embassy of India in Qatar and other Qatar authorities directly and through Madad, a Government of India initiative, with constant follow-up until the issues are resolved. According to Govind, Punarjani has also been proactive to help needy people especially those who need legal assistance. He pointed out several instances on how the organisation came to the assistance of Indians who were either trapped by their agents or those who were falsely implicated in legal cases and had to undergo imprisonment. The volunteers of Punarjani also visit labour camps and provide assistance in finding jobs to those who have lost their jobs. Many unemployed were provided food and other necessities and in a specific case, the number exceeded more than 500. “We have assisted in the deportation of the mortal remains of several Indian expatriates with the support of HMC staff and Indian embassy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Punarjani distributed hundreds of food packages for needy people including other nationalities. We have also arranged free air tickets by chartered flight organised by Punarjani as part of the Vandhe Bharath Mission for needy people who were unable to travel back to India,” he recounted. Moreover, Punarjani organises a blood donation campaign every six months in co-ordination with the HMC Blood Donor Center where 200-300 of its volunteers and well-wishers actively participate. Punarjani is also providing round-the-clock assistance to needy Indian citizens for embassy-related activities and has been extending a helping hand to several people working in unorganised sectors. “In recognition of the humanitarian services, ICBF honoured our fraternity co-ordinator Govind with the prestigious K P Abdul Hameed Memorial Humanitarian Award in October 2020 which is an inspiration to the selfless volunteers of team Punarjani,” added an official of Punarjani.

Al-Ula Summit is beginning  of a new phase for the GCC as a whole and dialogue must be the way forward, said experts expressing cautious optimism at a webinar yesterday while highlighting the need for legal frame work such as a GCC court to settle regional issues. The webinar, “After the Al-Ula Summit: Prospects for a GCC Rapprochement,” was organised by Brookings Doha Centre. Hesham Alghannam, senior research fellow at the Gulf Research Centre, Cambridge; Ebtesam al-Ketbi, president, Emirates Policy Centre; Majed al-Ansari president, Qatar International Academy for Security Studies and Abdullah al-Shayji, professor of International Relations and US Politics, Kuwait University shared their views on the recent development in GCC as well as the way forward.  The session was moderated by Noah Aboueldahab, fellow at Brookings Doha Centre. Al-Ketbi said the GCC needed a court of its own to solve the issues. “There needs to be confidence building measures and a proper mechanism to settle the issues. European Union has its own court. Similarly, GCC needs a court that can resolve many of the regional issues. Al-Ula is the beginning of a new phase for the GCC,” she noted. Alghannam highlighted that GCC has to go forward resolving all the differences. “GCC is here to stay and everyone wants to maintain it. There was no conflict between the countries but certain differences. It might take some time to heal all the issues and restore trust deficit so that a crisis such as the resolved one, never happens again,” he explained. The panellists also highlighted that bilateral resolutions are necessary to gain the trust of each country and country to country level discussions will help in solving the issues. They noted that such practices will help in preventing any such crisis in the future. “Differences should be resolved through strategic dialogue, which is the only way forward. There must be a proper framework to get them sorted out which will naturally result in more development for everyone,” said Dr al-Ansari. The panellists also highlighted the role played by Kuwait in bringing the rapprochement as well as the mediation efforts of the US. Al-Shayji added: “GCC unity is a necessity and not a luxury. There was lack of communication as well as lack of trust.  As we turn a new page in GCC history, it has to be followed up with measures to build up a stronger bond among all the countries.”

* Covid-19 vaccine only for citizens and residents, not visitors People who have been infected with Covid-19 have to complete 90 days to get vaccinated, a senior official of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has said. “People who test positive for Covid-19 have to wait for 90 days from the first day of infection to get vaccinated," Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of vaccination at the MoPH, said during an Instagram question-and-answer session. She also noted that visitors to the country will not be given Covid-19 vaccination as only citizens and residents are eligible for the vaccine in Qatar currently. “As of now, we are giving the vaccine only to the citizens and residents of the country and no visitors will be given the vaccination,” Dr al-Bayat said. According to Dr al-Bayat, the Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory for travel to Qatar but might be needed for travel to some places as Saudi Arabia has advised people travelling for Umrah to get vaccinated. On the differences between the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, she said: “Qatar has signed agreements for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. We have already started with the Pfizer vaccine while Moderna is expected to arrive in the country within several weeks. The major difference between them is the storage requirement and in the time of the second dose. "The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is given after 21 days while it is a 28-day gap for the Moderna vaccine.” “So far, there has been no serious side effects of any sort for those who have taken the vaccination," she continued. "All the side effects were very mild and did not last beyond 24 hours. These were mild headache or body temperature or mild tenderness and itching in the injection area." Dr al-Bayat highlighted that there was no issue with the capacity of facilities in the country to treat Covid-19 patients. “Ever since the pandemic started, Qatar has expanded medical facilities all around the country and increased the number of beds and intensive care units. We never reached the full capacity. We have never had any capacity issues from Day 1,” she pointed out. In the first phase of vaccination, one category of people are those who suffer from chronic illness with complications such as renal issues or other major problems. People who are suffering from hypertension or diabetes but are stable may not be included in the first stage of vaccination, she added.

Dr Mohan Thomas, a prominent Doha-based physician, has been conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from Qatar for his noble services in medicine. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, who delivered the valedictory address on the third and final day of the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations, presented the awards at a virtual event. The event was also attended by Dr S Jaishankar, Indian External Affairs Minister. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and organisation or institution established and run by NRIs or PIOs as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. Including Dr Thomas, 30 people from different countries have been honoured with the award this year. The ceremony was held virtually due to the Covid-19 scenario and the award comprises a gold medal and a citation. “It is indeed a great honour for me to receive the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. It is a recognition given by the government of India and and I am thankful to the government for this noble gesture. I pledge to continue working for the welfare of the community as well as to serve the people in all possible ways,” Dr Thomas told Gulf Times. Dr Thomas, who is also the president-elect of the Indian Sports Centre, is a prominent Indian community leader in Qatar and has been active in community services for about four decades. Besides being a renowned otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon, and an alumnus of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, he has been at the forefront of philanthropic activities -- serving hundreds of needy and low-income members of the community in Qatar as well as helping a large number of downtrodden people back in India. An ardent sports lover, he had been a football player in his college days and is presently engaged in promoting sports activities among the community members. He is the founder-president of Birla Public School and a leading entrepreneur in the country. Congratulating him, Sanjiv Arora, former secretary (Consular, Passport & Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) at the Ministry of External Affairs, India, and a former Indian ambassador in Qatar, told Gulf Times from Delhi: “Dr Thomas is among the stalwarts of the large, vibrant and highly regarded Indian community in Qatar. The award conferred upon him is a tribute to our wonderful community in Qatar. A multifaceted, versatile and popular personality, he has served our community and the lofty cause of the historic India-Qatar friendship with dedication, aplomb and distinction. "As a doctor, community leader, entrepreneur, educationist and philanthropist, he has been at the forefront of many notable initiatives and activities in Qatar and India."

Qatar Computer Research Institute (QCRI), a part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, has introduced a number of innovative solutions to combat cyberattacks, especially on the healthcare systems, Gulf Times has learnt. "Cyberattacks on healthcare systems are on the rise globally and amid the widespread disruption of the pandemic, cybercriminals have launched complex and co-ordinated attacks – from financial threats to those targeting privacy," according to Dr Ahmed Elmagarmid, founding executive director, QCRI. “There is no silver bullet for the growing global cybersecurity challenges that we face today. Instead, we must analyse the unique challenges facing healthcare systems and adapt existing solutions or develop new ones to address each of them. To a certain degree, cybersecurity is becoming more of a data analytics problem.” The new tools include QCRI’s ‘guilt-by-association’ tool used to identify suspicious domains or predict malicious attacks by analysing the previous movements of the domain address. QCRI has built another tool to utilise enterprise data logs to identify dormant attackers and amplify low attack signals within the enterprise network. A third invention offers actionable recommendations to take down attack sources based on the type of hosting infrastructure, while minimising the collateral damage to benign providers and customers. Another tool offers a new technology that identifies unwanted e-mails solely from their headers and enterprise communication patterns. The solution is valuable when end-to-end e-mail encryption is used, which restricts access to the full email content to the sender and receiver alone. Through its ongoing project, SIHA (System for Integrated Health Analytics), in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation, Sidra Medicine, and others, QCRI is confronting many of the challenges facing the next generation of health solutions. SIHA (health in Arabic) combines data from wearables, smart health IoT devices, and medical devices with other sources to deliver predictive analytics using machine learning. Dr Faisal Farooq, principal scientist and head of the Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine, QCRI, compared SIHA with typical enterprise health systems, “Systems like SIHA are connected to consumer devices over potentially multiple heterogeneous and open networks, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks and exposing protected health information in the public domain. To safeguard against this, QCRI deploys data encryption techniques, multilevel authentication mechanisms, and adherence to the stringent security standards of the health domain.” Dr Elmagarmid says that the health sector has unique vulnerabilities, providing very large attack surfaces because of the number of diverse interacting entities, the fast adoption of the Internet of Things and remote connectivity. Insider breaches and compromised credentials also pose very real threats, as different entities access electronic medical records, often with conflicting interests. He supports the zero-trust model adopted by Qatar, a holistic approach to cybersecurity involving several technologies and processes through which access to all resources can be authenticated and verified. The approach combines a "least privilege model" and access control, with logging and inspecting all activities performed using security analytics. Qatar has also launched the National Security Operations Centre, which logs and inspects activities, as well as applying regular authentication and security solutions. Dr Issa M Khalil, principal scientist, QCRI, noted: “I agree that the solution to solving the problem of attack attribution is technical, but novel technical solutions have to go hand in hand with stakeholder collaborations, both nationally and internationally.” Among these novel solutions, according to Dr Khalil, are private data sharing and analytics. Federated learning, searching encrypted data, and content-agnostic detection of indicators of compromise, combined with big data curation and advanced machine learning algorithms, can enable real-time monitoring, logging, and correlation of logs across different vantage points. Such a combined effort could help in connecting the dots and tracing attack actions to the infrastructure exploited an important step towards attribution. “Ecosystems like those driving SIHA present unique security and privacy challenges that require further research and standardisation of protocols to instill trust in users – consumers and healthcare providers. Like other domains, it is impossible to ensure security attacks never happen in healthcare systems. What’s important is how we respond to such attacks. Healthcare systems need to be constantly monitored, so attacks can be detected on time and their impact mitigated,” Dr Elmagarmid said.

The Covid-19 vaccine currently being administered in Qatar is safe for even those who have any food allergy, a top official of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said Wednesday. "However, people who have allergic issues should consult their physician and confirm they are not allergic to any components of the vaccine,” said Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of vaccination, at MoPH. She was answering a question at the weekly question-answer session on the Instagram account of the MoPH. The official took questions from the general public regarding Covid-19 vaccination and gave clarifications. According to Dr al-Bayat, millions of people have been vaccinated around the world and there were no serious side effects. “As for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, there has been only very mild side effects. No major or significant side effects were reported in Qatar too. Some had allergy to the components of the vaccine. Otherwise, no significant side effects,” she said. “Most common is pain at the sight of the injection lasting for a few hours or up to 24 hours. Some had elevated temperature, while others had headache, but nothing beyond the first 24 hours,” continued the official. Dr al-Bayat noted that the eligiblity criteria for the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination will be updated in the coming weeks taking various factors into consideration as well as the emerging scenario. “We are in phase one of the vaccination campaign for Covid-19. Currently people who are 65 and above, those with chronic illnesses with complications, and frontline healthcare workers are eligible at this stage. In the coming phases we will expand it to other categories of people. The Ministry of Public Health will announce more details about expanding the vaccination as and when required,” she explained . “Presently, we have signed agreement for Covid-19 vaccine with Pfizer-BioNTech, and Moderna. We have received the first batch from Pfizer while we are hopeful that we will receive the first batch from Moderna in the immediate future,” pointed out, the official. She reiterated there are no vaccines available for people aged 16 and below at present. “Clinical trials for the Covid-19 vaccine have been conducted among those above 16 years. So, it is approved for the age of 16 and above. Now more clinical trials are being done for those aged 12 and above. When we get sufficient data of its safety and effectiveness, and as more and more trials happen, other age groups will be included,” added the official.

Three more health centres have started providing the Covid-19 vaccine while over 10% of the target group in the first phase of vaccination were inoculated during the first week, a top official told Gulf Times on Monday. "Al Khor, Qatar University and Al Waab health centres have been added to the existing seven health centres for Covid-19 vaccination," Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) managing director Dr Mariam Abdul Malik said in reply to a question. All other health centres under PHCC will be included to provide the vaccination in the coming days, the official explained. “The vaccination campaign is progressing very rapidly and smoothly at all the centres. With the age limit reduced to 65 to be eligible for the first phase of vaccination, more people have been included to the first phase. Within the first one week, over 10% of the target group has been vaccinated and we hope that all the others in the country will be vaccinated in the coming months,” continued Dr Abdul Malik. The other seven designated PHCC Health Centers for Covid-19 vaccination are: Al Wajbah, Leabaib, Al Ruwais, Umm Salal, Rawdat Al Khail, Al Thumama and Muaither. The first phase of the vaccination runs until January 31. PHCC has also launched a dedicated hotline 4027707 to enable those aged 65 and above to book, cancel or schedule pre-booked Covid-19 vaccination appointments. The dedicated line is currently available from 7am to 11pm. “To ensure that we are further prioritising those mostly at risk of severe complications from Covid-19 we have now activated a dedicated hotline number. This dedicated number will improve accessibility for our clients and encourage uptake of the vaccine by providing further flexibility on appointment booking,” Dr Abdul Malik, added. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently announced that it has lowered the age limit for Covid-19 vaccine eligibility to those aged 65 and above from 70 years. Vaccinations at health centres will continue to be given to people with pre-arranged appointments that fall under the priority groups of people aged 65 years of age and above; people with severe chronic conditions and healthcare workers with repeated exposure to Covid-19. Members of the community who are eligible for the vaccine will continue to be contacted through phone/SMS by the PHCC team to invite them to attend an appointment at one of the ten designated health centres. The vaccine will be offered more widely throughout the year. The MoPH is working with the pharmaceutical companies to ensure the next shipment of vaccines arrives in Qatar as early as possible and everyone who needs to be vaccinated will be able to do so throughout the year.

The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has launched a new mobile application ‘Nar’aakom’, offering a bunch of services and facilities. “The app in English and Arabic provides comprehensive healthcare management on-the-go, from accessing upcoming appointments to applying for a health card online," PHCC managing director Dr Mariam Abdul Malik said. "The app allows Qatar residents to benefit from many of PHCC's digital services from their smartphones,” she explained at a press conference on Monday. With the launch of Nar’aakom, PHCC has made it easy for Qatar residents to access digitised services for its 27 health centres, by making healthcare services easily accessible. “It is an extension of the digital transformation of healthcare services that PHCC rolled out early last year. With the mobile app, we empower people with the ability to access health services anywhere, anytime at their convenience in a secure platform; thus encouraging patients to take ownership of their health,” continued Dr Abdul Malik. PHCC has also started a dedicated hotline, 4027707 to help people aged 65 and above to book, cancel or schedule pre-booked Covid-19 vaccination appointments. The dedicated line is currently available from 7am to 11pm. During Covid-19, PHCC accelerated its digital transformation to facilitate no or minimal-contact care delivery through virtual consultations over the phone and video; a 24x7 Community Call Centre and an electronically-dispensed medication facility with home-delivery service. The new mobile app, Nar’aakom, provides complete management of services from keeping track of the health card expiry date and online renewal, to accessing the assigned health center and finding your personal assigned family physician. The Nar’aakom app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in Qatar. “Nar’aakom gives complete control to manage your and your family’s health service requirements. From requesting a new appointment at one of PHCC health centres, to applying for a change of your assigned health centre, or changing the assigned family physician. It also allows you to add dependents to your account, so as to manage requests for any of these services on their behalf,” said Musallam Mubarak al-Nabit, assistant managing director at PHCC. Alexandra Tarazi, executive director of Health Information Systems, PHCC, said that the new app is a way forward to enhance and digitise the services of PHCC in a big way. “The new app for the time being offer some of the basic services. It will in the coming days be expanded with most of the services offered by PHCC including access to digital copy of the medical reports” said, Tarazi Within a year, PHCC has managed to lead the digitalisation of healthcare services in Qatar. In October 2020, PHCC had launched their new website which provides an easy access to all primary care information online. Patients can also access e-services on the PHCC website that allows conducting ‘day-to-day’ administrative business on-line. Dr Abdul Malik also announced that PHCC has also received two ISO certifications for its digital services; IT 20000 for its IT services and the second one is ISO 27001 for IT security.

Basking in Qatar's glorious heritage and culture of maritime activities, boat building is thriving in the country, with special emphasis on unique and innovative interior designs, according to a veteran craftsman. “We build boats according to the tastes of our clients and most of them want the interior in the Majilis style, depicting Qatari culture," said, Peter Antony, an Indian boat builder in the country for the past 17 years. "It might take one to one and half years to complete the whole work to get a boat renovated and ready for use. About five people are engaged in the work of a boat,” he explained. The deck of a boat is being built Uncut teak trunks are used in entirety in boat construction, says Peter Antony Craftsmen engaged in the construction of a boat. PICTURES Jayan Orma The professional who has decades of experience in boat building is currently looking after the progress of three boats in construction at Al Shamal, Al Khor and Al Wakra. Old boats are brought from other countries and Antony and his team build the upper part of the boat and repair the lower if needed. “A typical large size boat we make is about 88ft long and 22ft wide, with three bedrooms, one living room as well as four bathrooms. However, it all depends on the choice of the clients and we design the interior accordingly. Most people want the interior to resemble that of the Qatari style buildings and follow the rich traditions and heritage,” explained Antony. The deck of the boats might be lower in height and they will have to increase the height about 2ft while rebuilding the boat. Mainly teak is used for the construction of the boats. “In some cases we use the entire teak trunk as a single piece without cutting. This is generally brought from Myanmar as well as some African countries. We also get wood from Malaysia. About QR700,000 might be needed for completing the renovation of a boat,” he pointed out. The veteran builder said that nearly 500 people are engaged in different parts of the country in boat building. “The current style of boat building and design is in practice for about 20 years. However, of late, iron is also used for the construction of the boats instead of wood. But, such boats will not last long as iron rusts in due course. A boat made of wood is likely to last for about 10 to 12 years without any major problems,” he pointed out. Antony who has built 16 boats in addition to supervising the maintenance of dozens of others, have about 20 people working with him. Most of them are from different parts of India. “Qataris like to go out on marine trips with their families. Sometimes they also use for gatherings of friends as well as for fishing. Many of them use it for fishing competition,” he added.

Those who have got the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine should continue taking precautions until sufficient antibodies are developed, noted a top official of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Wednesday. “Sufficient antibodies will develop only after taking the second dose of the vaccine,” Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of Vaccination at MoPH, explained at an Instagram question and answer session. "A person who has taken the first shot of vaccine can still be infected with Covid-19 before the second dose is taken as sufficient time is needed to develop antibodies," she stressed. The clinical trial data for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine show that when both shots of the vaccine are taken, three weeks apart, it is about 95% effective. “About 95% people who received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine have developed antibodies. Each person’s body responds different to vaccines and illnesses. Even if you don’t develop enough antibodies and get the infection, the effect will be mild,” she said. Dr al-Bayat also pointed out that clinical trials for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine did not include either pregnant or lactating women and children below the age of 16, and available data is so far insufficient to determine any risks to them by the vaccine. “No pregnant women were included in the trial but no significant contra indications are shown at this stage. Technically speaking it should be safe but there is no scientific evidence,” she said, while ruling out any serious side effects caused by the vaccine. “So far about 2mn people have received the vaccine in the US, more than a million in the UK and many others around the world including Qatar. Some have shown very modest side effects such as mild fever, headache, fatigue and soreness at the injection site and these are common with other vaccines,” pointed out Dr al-Bayat. “When we receive the next batches of the Covid-19 vaccine, we will gradually include every category of the population. The vaccine is given free and to everyone regardless of their nationality,” said Dr al-Bayat. Dr al-Bayat said that the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine being given in the country can be effective for a minimum of four to five months according to initial clinical trials. “The Covid-19 vaccine is new; it’s very difficult to say for how long it will be effective. But clinical trials show that it can be effective for a minimum of four to five months and hopefully it will be more. Follow up tests are being done with people who are vaccinated,” she added. Qatar started Covid-19 vaccination drive on December 23. In the first phase of the campaign that lasts until January 31, people aged 70 and above as well as adults with chronic diseases are among the categories to be vaccinated.

There are several areas for co-operation between Qatar and India, especially in the post-Covid-19 world to take the already robust bilateral relations to a higher level of excellence, India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar expressed the optimism in an online interaction with Indian community members on Sunday. “The opportunities that will arise in India due to the economic recovery, provide a platform for more co-operation," he told in response to a suggestion by Gulf Times Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko for enhancing Qatar-India relations. "There will be a lot opportunities in India for the world economies, including Qatar to spread out the investments and business interests. The climate is suitable in India and there are several new possibilities in many areas including food security. “There are opportunities for potential partnerships and this is where India can be beneficial to Qatar. I will communicate these possibilities to Qatari authorities and how India can contribute to Qatar’s growth,” continued Dr Jaishankar who is on a two-day visit to Qatar. Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal welcomed the gathering and highlighted the importance of the visit of the minister. At the virtual meeting, community leaders shared their ideas and suggestions for improving the relationships between both countries and also apprised the minister of some of the requirements of the community such space for community centre, sports centre among other matters. "I had two rounds of conversation with my Qatari counterpart. He has been very positive in his response and was very encouraging about my visit. I will do my best to make sure that the post Covid- 19 world has a much stronger India-Qatar partnership,” highlighted Dr Jaishankar. He also assured that the comments and suggestions made by the community members will be taken up with the authorities both in Qatar and India and promised to assist the community in all its needs. “Investment suggestions raised in this meeting will be discussed with my colleagues in India. Covid-19 has made us think differently in several areas. People are now looking at solutions more practically than a year ago. We will also try to harness the investment potential of NRIs in Qatar as well as the potential to expand the export possibilities from India to Qatar,” explained the minister. Indian apex body presidents: AP Manikantan (Indian Cultural Centre), P N Baburajan (Indian Community Benevolent Forum), Hassan Chogule (Indian Sports Council) and Azeem Abbas (Indian Business and Professionals Council) spoke at the event and highlighted the activities undertaken by these bodies as well as the needs of the community. Doha Bank Group CEO Dr R Seetharaman focused on the need to increase bilateral trade and the relevance of public-private partnership model in this connection. Dr Mohan Thomas, a leading physician and prominent community leader, highlighted that education and sports opportunities can help develop India's opportunities with Qatar. He observed that education possibilities from institutions such the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management could benefit a lot of people in Qatar and create vast opportunities while India with its 1.3bn population could be a strong partner with Qatar in sports events. Sasidharan from community forum Punarjani, suggested tapping the skills of the over 100 Indian scientists in Qatar while Farook Butt suggested to promote Jammu and Kashmir as a favourite tourism spot in Qatar and the Middle East. Juttas Paul highlighted the need for a community centre for the large number of community members in the country.

Hundreds of elderly people have received the Covid-19 vaccine in Qatar, as the first phase of the free vaccination campaign continues at a rapid pace. A number of community dignitaries who are prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine were among the first group of people to receive the vaccine on the first days of the campaign, rolled out on Wednesday. Prominent Qatari entrepreneur HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, who was among the first group of people to take the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, has urged the community to take the Covid-19 vaccine, according to a report on the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) website. HE Ali bin Saeed al-Khayarin receives the vaccination Sherida bin Saad al Kaabi gets vaccinated Other prominent citizens who has taken the vaccine include former minister, HE Ali bin Saeed al-Khayarin, and former diplomat, Sherida bin Saad al-Kaabi. “Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available – this includes a vaccine. The comprehensive clinical trial process undertaken on the Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine has demonstrated that it is safe and 95% effective,” said Sheikh Faisal. “I have full confidence in this vaccine which is why I am taking it as early as possible.” Sheikh Faisal said the arrival of the vaccine and its roll-out was important step to returning to normal daily life as well as protecting our loved ones. “Vaccines are our best hope of ending this pandemic,” he said. “It is important that we take strong steps so that we can protect ourselves and our families against Covid-19 and this includes taking the vaccine when it is available to us.” Director of the Public Health Department at the MoPH, Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani commended Sheikh Faisal for being among the first to be vaccinated against Covid-19. “The arrival and widespread uptake of the Covid-19 vaccines here in Qatar will enable us to start the process of returning to our normal lives,” said Sheikh Mohamed. “I commend Sheikh Faisal for demonstrating his commitment and taking the vaccine and I encourage all members of the community to do the same.” Sheikh Mohamed said as the vaccine is rolled out to the community, everyone must also continue to take preventative measures against Covid-19. “I also urge all members of the community to continue to practise physical distancing and wearing a mask,” he added. Qatar is one of the first countries in the world to provide a safe, effective and approved Covid-19 vaccine totally free for its population. Several hundred people were vaccinated against Covid-19 on the first day of the largest national vaccination programme in the history of Qatar. “I would like to thank the wise leadership of our country and all healthcare officials for their efforts to provide Covid-19 vaccines to all citizens and residents in Qatar,” al-Khayarin said following his vaccination. “Trusting in God almighty and in the efforts being made by the health sector officials to protect our beloved country from this pandemic, I was keen to get vaccinated and fulfil my role in protecting my health and that of the community. Qatar has spared no effort to provide the best Covid-19 vaccines to its population and I’m confident this campaign will be a success and will serve the best interest of our community.” Al-Kaabi expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the wise leadership of the country for providing the vaccine to all citizens and residents and to the Ministry of Public Health for its efforts to fight the spread of Covid-19. “I encourage all citizens and residents to get vaccinated as this can help protect the person who receives the vaccine, those around him, and the wider community from the virus. I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their efforts and dedication and wish everyone safety and health during this challenging time,” added, al-Kaabi.