Qatar steps up to Global Health security: a reflection on the joint external evaluation, 2016

Abstract

Since the commencement of the International Health Regulations in 2007, global public health security has been faced with numerous emerging and ongoing events. Moreover, the Joint External Evaluation is a voluntary tool developed in compliance with the Global Health Security Agenda that represents the high responsibility of international health community towards the increased incidence of emerging and re-emerging diseases. Against this background, between 29th May and 2nd June 2016, a team of World Health Organization consultants arrived to the State of Qatar to assess, in collaboration with national experts, the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to threats of public health aspect. They identified areas of strength, weakness, and recommendations for improving national health security of Qatar in anticipation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup event. Qatar has demonstrated a leading role in the region through its commitment to International Health Regulations (2005) and population health. Similarly, the Qatar was the first Arab state and seventh volunteering country globally to undergo the Joint External evaluation process. In this review, we highlighted Qatar’s achievements and shortcomings of International Health Regulations’ core capacities to inform healthcare professionals and the scientific community about the country’s contribution toward global health security.

FIFA World Cup 2022 and the Risk of Emergence of Zoonotic Diseases

“…However, due to the exorbitant price of medical care, travelers are strongly urged to secure health insurance before arriving in Qatar. 4,27 Many health and safety concerns have been raised because of the expected influx of visitors to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. As a result, medical facilities should take precautions to ensure they can handle a large number of casualties.…”

“…Even though zoonotic illnesses that cause periodic outbreaks/epidemics have become more common in the last three decades, most countries still lack the comprehensive preventative measures needed to stop them. 3,4 In less than a month, the world will witness the unfolding of yet another season of one of the world's greatest sporting events; the men's Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2022. Qatar, hosting the 22nd edition of the once-every-four-years most-watched and most lucrative event in sports, is the first country in the Middle East to host this sporting event.…”

From the “Madding Crowd” to mass gatherings-religion, sport, culture and public health

“…As this article goes to press, one of the most awaited mass gatherings in modern historythe FIFA World Cup 2018 is underway [6]. The size of football is difficult to comprehend, nothing else compares in scale: football dwarfs the United Nations, and even Coca-Cola, in international reach.…”