Volunteering Global day:
Dr. Kassem Alom: Emirates leads the way at the global level in the field of emergency medical response A Female Volunteer doctor invites doctors to medical volunteerism to save thousands of people living in the world Dr. Kassem Alom , CEO of Al Noor Hospitals Group in Abu Dhabi, Board Member of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and industry has emphasized on the importance of volunteerism in the medical field and it’s active role in alleviating the suffering of patients through the provision of diagnostic and therapeutic programs and all requirements that would help improve the health situation. He invited the health facilities to encourage medical personnel for volunteering to contribute to the success of the humanitarian and health programs implemented by the competent authorities and bodies within and outside the Emirate, adding that the UAE is a forerunner at the global level in the field of emergency medical response and medical assistance for the injured or the affected by various disasters. On the occasion of the world day of volunteering, which falls on 5 December of each year, Al Noor Hospitals Group gives great importance to volunteerism in line with the strategies applied in the Emirate and ensures that medical staff either doctors or professionals participate in volunteer work within and outside the Emirate, saying that every year there are health awareness campaigns and a free medical examination against the various diseases, particularly chronic diseases in various hospitals of the Group. He noted that the Group was represented by Dr. Wasan Al Kaabi, an emergency physician working in the emergency department at Al Noor Hospital - Khalifa Street branch who won the prestigious Medical Volunteer Distinction Award within Abu Dhabi Medical Distiction Awards organized by Abu Dhabi Health Authority. Dr. Wasan, a regular member of the volunteer team of Red Crescent where her voluntary work with the Red Crescent medical team in Pakistan helped those affected by the floods. Dr. Wasan Al Kaabi, a doctor at Al-Nour hospital expressed her pride of medical volunteering when she participated in year 2010 with Red Crescent Authority team in Pakistan to help those affected by the floods, where the medical team vaccinated the children and the groups most vulnerable to diseases along with various ailments, especially that she was the only doctor in the team which took the examinations and treatment of HIV-positive women. When she travelled with the Red Crescent team, her son Omar was about 6 months of age and she had to leave him with his father. But the motive was her feeling that there are thousands of children in need of assistance and rescue. She added that they were working more than 10 hours continuously per day during the holy month of Ramadan. Thousands of children were vaccinated against various diseases, in addition to consulting hundreds of pregnant women and patients and assisting in deliveries for many cases. She confirmed that her husband, who works as a doctor as well, encouraged her to volunteer and he also was affiliated with the Red Crescent team to participate in voluntary work. Dr. Wasan also asserted that she received real support from the Emergency Department of Al Noor hospital, especially Dr. Kassem Alom who approves her leave for weeks to travel with the team of Red Crescent Authority and provide all forms of medical assistance to the sick and the needy. She encourages her colleagues in various medical fields to volunteer their time and effort for the thousands of sick and wounded who need medical attention in various countries in the world. Dr. Wasan Al Kaabi served as member of the Emirati Red Crescent Society team, which participated in the campaign to vaccinate children in Peshawar, Pakistan in late 2010 in cooperation with UNICEF, she also worked with the Emirati Red Crescent Society team who participated in helping those affected in flood disaster in Pakistan, and honored by the Emirati Red Crescent society as a volunteer with a high level in 2011.