Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) president Dr Mohamed bin Ghanem al-Ali al-Maadheed has visited the quarantine facility in Mekaines to follow up on the workflow, discuss action plans and challenges, and explain future scenarios of the coronavirus crisis.
Managed by QRCS under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the Mekaines quarantine facility is one of the largest in Qatar, with seven complexes that are currently accommodating 11,000 workers, QRCS has said in a statement.










The visit was attended by Dr Abdul-Salam al-Qahtani, board member and head of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee; Abdullah al-Qatan, executive director of the Medical Affairs Division; Dr Hasan Kasem, general medical director of the Medical Affairs Division; and Dr Hassan al-Yafi, head of the Training and Development Department.
Dr al-Maadheed had a firsthand overview of how the mechanism of work is applied at the quarantine facility, starting from safety measures and vital signs checks at the entrance to the swabbing room where samples are regularly taken from the referred cases.
Aiham al-Sukhni and Subhi Ejjeh, who manage the quarantine facility, gave a detailed presentation on accommodation, catering, clothing and other logistic services provided for the quarantined inmates, while observing the maximum safety precautions.
Dr al-Maadheed commended the role played by QRCS’s personnel, thanks to the expertise they acquired from the Disaster Management Camp’s eight editions, which graduated hundreds of well-trained relief workers.
He said the work done by the Camp staff in the current situation reflects QRCS’s ability to manage disasters, particularly in relation to emergency shelter.
He thanked the medical staff at the quarantine centre for their excellent work despite all the risks and challenges. They were urged to keep up the good performance, realising the important role of the medical sector in combating the coronavirus outbreak.
Dr al-Maadhee expressed pride in QRCS’s effective contributions to the efforts of the Qatari authorities against the virus, together with all government bodies and NGOs. “I would like to warmly thank all the organisations that donated generously to our anti-coronavirus endeavours,” he noted. “Thanks also go to every employee and volunteer who dedicates their time and effort to our beloved country. This represents the strength of the Qatari community and solidarity among every national and resident living on this land."
The visit concluded with a meeting with the administrative staff, who told Dr al-Maadheed and his delegation how work is done, the administrative structure and what is required to ensure optimised services. He also stressed the compliance with international health crisis management standards.
“In this emergency, QRCS aligns 42 years of humanitarian experience both locally and globally,” said Dr al-Maadheed. "Inspired by the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as the Qatari culture and values, we aligned more than 1,000 employees and 15,000 volunteers to work 24/7 to protect society members. It is the first time for our country to face such a calamity, but I am sure we will emerge out of it stronger and safer."
Apart from the Mekaines quarantine facility, QRCS is managing a workers’ examination centre. Established within only 48 hours, it serves to examine expatriate workers for coronavirus infections.
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