In line with the preparedness of the Ministry of Health to tackle COVID-19, the Directorate General of Health Services of Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate (DGHS-Ad Dakhiliyah) has developed plans to deal with this pandemic with taking all required procedures. 

The DGHS-Ad Dakhiliyah Sub-Committee of Emergency Management prepared all health institutions in the Governorate, ensured the readiness of the health workers, as well as provided the medical supplies and personal protective equipment. In addition, a special path has been determined to deal with the suspected cases in the health institutions along with special areas to examine these cases.

The Sub-Committee, which headed by Dr. Ali Al-Dhawi, DGHS-Ad Dakhiliyah Director-General, is in permanent session to follow-up all developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DGHS-Ad Dakhiliyah has organized a number of awareness campaigns on the pandemic prevention and control through the social media channels videos or leaflets that have been distributed in the public areas, along with allocating a hotline for all queries regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

An epidemiological investigation team has been formed in all Wilayates of the Governorate to investigate the source of the suspected cases, account the contacts and clarify the procedures of the home isolation.

The Directorate expanded the COVID-19 examinations by providing the examination in most health institutions of the Governorate in order to facilitate the movement of the clients.

In cooperation with the Relief & Shelter Sector in the Governorate and other concerned public and civil authorities, a number of centers for institutional isolation (hotels & hotel apartments) have been allocated for the infected or suspected cases. These centers have been provided with prevention needs and psychological counseling services along with following up the isolated persons in these institutions. As for the infected persons and the self-isolated contacts, the health teams of the Governorate contacting them and visiting them whenever required to monitor their health condition.

A plan in place has been developed to allocate a fully-equipped field hospital, if necessary, in coordination with the Relief & Shelter Sector and other governmental authorities.

Furthermore, an emergency room has been activated in the Governorate to respond to all inquiries received from the Emergency Management Center of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and coordinate with the military and civil sectors to tackle this pandemic.

It is worth mentioning that H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al-Hosni, MOH Undersecretary for Health Affairs has visited the Governorate to view the readiness mechanisms for the pandemic. He also chaired the meeting of the Main Committee of Emergency Management in the Governorate with the presence of Dr. Ali Al-Dhawi, DGHS-Ad Dakhiliyah Director-General along with the members of the Committee.

The MOH Undersecretary for Health Affairs praised the efforts of the medical staff, allied health categories and the administrators in the various health institutions stressing the need for raising awareness between the health workers in their specialties regarding prevention of COVID-19 infection with the necessity of implementing the ways to reduce the spread of the disease in the health institution and among the health workers.