National Ambulance Organises Infection Prevention Activities

Abu Dhabi, October 26, 2021: As part of the Infection Control Week, National Ambulance organised a series of activities at its headquarters and via virtual sessions to raise awareness of the importance of infection prevention and the methods in combating it, including the importance of vaccines and raising health awareness of the different measures that protect members of society from infection with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Infection Control Week is an annual event, which this year has increased importance given the ongoing efforts to combat Covid-19.
 
In line with this year’s global slogan ‘Make your intention infection prevention’, the activities conducted by National Ambulance’s Medical Services Department and the Occupational Health and Safety unit focused on the importance of adhering to precautionary practices and measures in infection prevention and promoting health practices such as hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette avoid touching the eyes and mouth and other precautions. The sessions also shed the light on the benefits of the seasonal influenza vaccination in the protection against flu and its potentially serious complications.

Chief Executive Officer of National Ambulance, Ahmed Al Hajeri, said: “We have all witnessed the importance of taking infection prevention and control seriously. At National Ambulance maintaining public health is our priority and Infection Prevention Week is an ideal opportunity to continue to raise awareness about these important issues and I urge the public to remain vigilant and continue adhering to preventive measures and precautions which are vital in the successful recovery of this global pandemic and the full return to normal life.”

Dr Ayman Ahmed, Chief Administrative and Medical Officer at National Ambulance, added: “The Corona pandemic shed additional light on the importance of infection prevention and control to the health of the community. The strict measures and protocols of infection control and prevention undertaken by National Ambulance during the pandemic (such as sterilization and disinfection protocols, isolation precautions, safe disposal of medical waste and a staff vaccination rate of over 99%) combined with the concerted national efforts in facing Covid-19 and limiting its spread played a pivotal role in minimising and controlling the number of infected medical staff members and in the protection of the health and safety of our patients.” 

National Ambulance’s Infection Prevention Week was supported by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), which provided the seasonal influenza vaccine to National Ambulance staff at its headquarters. The events were sponsored by Leader Healthcare Group and Mead Medical which both contributed valuable information about infection control and prevention and the latest technologies and tools used in that regard. Commenting on the partnerships, Al Hajeri added: “In the health sector it is vital that organisations come together to benefit the health and safety of the community. At National Ambulance we remain as committed as ever to working with others to promote healthy living, spread awareness of life saving first aid and promote the importance of the ambulance service.”  

National Ambulance provides urgent pre-hospital care in the Northern Emirates which can be requested through the dedicated 998 emergency ambulance number and NA 998 mobile application. Its primary task is to work on the frontline to provide high standards of pre-hospital emergency medical services for serious illness and injuries to citizens, residents and visitors across the Emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah. Qualified ambulance crews combined with an advanced fleet and medical technologies are able to provide the appropriate care for patients in medical emergencies, trauma and public health crisis. National Ambulance also provides emergency medical services for communities, businesses and public events across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.