Geneva: The State of Qatar affirmed it has a number of measures put in place to address the economic and social impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, especially on expatriate workers by adopting a package of incentives to support the private sector and ensure the sustainability of employment and the protection of wages.
This came in a speech delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva Abdullah Hamad Al Nuaimi during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health.
Al Nuaimi said that Qatar's delegation welcomes Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health Dainius Puras, and thanks him for submitting his final report to the Human Rights Council, which deals with the framework of the global move towards a human rights-based practice in the field of mental health.
"We agree with the Special Rapporteur on the importance of discussing mental health problems and addressing them at the national, regional and international level," he said, noting that the State of Qatar annually organizes an international conference on psychiatry and mental health, with the aim of exchanging experiences with specialists from all over the world about developments in the field of psychiatry.
During the eighth edition of the conference held in December 2019 under the slogan '"Integrating Physical and Mental Health", a directory of mental health services was launched in the State of Qatar to facilitate access to mental health services and help individuals choose the services that suit their needs, he pointed out.
Al Nuaimi added that the fifth edition of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH 2020), which Doha will host, will contribute to exploring effective innovative solutions in addressing the major health challenges facing health systems around the world, including the COVID-19 crisis.
He expressed hope that the Special Rapporteur would share any information regarding practical steps that could be taken to increase awareness among members of society on mental and physical health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.