DOHA: A three-day Employee Health and Wellbeing Conference began in Doha yesterday under the theme ‘Global Action Plan: Protect Worker Health — Let the Business Thrive.’
The forum, supported by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), opened with a visionary address by Dr Mohammed Al Thani, Director, Public Health, SCH.
“Healthcare in Qatar is changing, and at the centre of the change is National Health Strategy (NHS). Working towards Qatar National Vision 2030, in particular the Human Development pillar, the SCH is striving hard to ensure workers welfare is a top priority for the government. With programmes such as the conference, we aim to educate industries and individuals and highlight some of today’s health and wellbeing concerns faced by employees and initiatives to overcoming them. Caring for the future is the essence of the programme the SCH has embarked on to enhance the wellness of the people of Qatar so that a vibrant, healthy and productive society can be established for today and the future,” he added.
Dr Al Thani also participated in an executive plenary session, moderated by Dr Huma Abbasi (Chevron Corporation) that discussed ‘Wellness works and Prevention Pays’ as an idea, with other panellists including Prof. Sergio Iavicoli, Secretary-General, International Commission on Occupational Health, Rob Sherwin, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, and Deputy Country Chairman, Qatar Shell Service Company and Egbert Schillings, CEO, World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).
The conference also partnered with Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and supported its Wekaya campaign (a worker health awareness programme). As a member of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, QRC is a globally recognised humanitarian organisation that has access to disaster and conflict zones.
Zenab Hussain, Director, Fleming Gulf and Event Organiser, presented QRCS with a donation cheque towards the cause as part of the their CSR activity.
Delegates participated in discussions on occupational health as a key determinant for sustainable development for any organisation.
Day two will see experts from University of Manchester, ExxonMobil, BP International and others discussing the future delivery and influence of occupational health.
A session on the aviation sector will have representatives from Qatar Airways, British Airways, Etihad Airways and others to discuss medical challenges faced within aviation. The forum ends tomorrow with two workshops.
The Peninsula
