OIC Holds Emergency Virtual Meeting on Combating Novel Coronavirus
Saudi Press Agency
Thursday 1441/8/16 - 2020/04/09
Jeddah, April 09, 2020, SPA -- The Steering Committee on Health (SCH) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held here today an emergency virtual meeting at the level of health ministers on novel Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, addressed the meeting, saying that it convenes at a time the entire world is facing an unprecedented challenge in human history, as millions of people are infected with the Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19.
He pointed to COVID-19's impacts on economy, health and different walks of social life, stating that this required OIC Member States to take immediate and decisive preventive, treatment and sensitization measures at the national, regional and international levels to curb the spread of the disease and protect people.
Dr. Al-Othaimeen stressed the determination of the OIC and its institutions to play their roles in helping the Member States to fight COVID-19 collectively, emphasizing the OIC's readiness to utilize its available resources to help the peoples of the Islamic world in these difficult times.
The Secretary General said that many of the healthcare systems of OIC Member States need urgent support to face the steady increase in the numbers of patients, expressing appreciation to the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Solidarity Fund (OIC-ISF) for their initiatives to address the adverse impacts of the pandemic.
He appealed to all the Member States, their governments, institutions and individuals, to make generous donations to the OIC-ISF, so as to enable the OIC to provide the much-needed support.
Addressing the meeting, Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah said, "Emanating from the keenness of the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on everything for the safety of the homeland and the Islamic nation, unprecedented precautionary measures have been taken, such as suspension of Umrah before the emergence of any case in the Kingdom to ensure the safety of Umrah performers and not to spread the disease to their countries. And we depend on our previous experiences in dealing with epidemics and our national centers with experience such as Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control and Global Center for Mass Gatherings Medicine without breach of international health regulations. And the Kingdom's leadership at an early date has initiated the establishment of a high-level committee consisting of many integrated sectors to set policies, implement decisions that help contain the virus, and review precautionary measures periodically".
Dr Al-Rabiah affirmed that the Kingdom is monitoring the current situation and studying what will be the Hajj season for this year, as it is difficult to predict due to the current epidemiological map in the Kingdom and in the rest of the world; and the most appropriate decision will be taken, considering health and safety of pilgrims as a top priority.
The Minister of Health hoped that the OIC Member States agree on strong collective precautionary responses to this epidemic that would enable the member states to confront it and deal with its consequences.
-- SPA
15:04 LOCAL TIME 12:04 GMT
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