ABU DHABI — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has facilitated, for several representatives of foreign missions accredited to the UAE, visits to new COVID-19 testing centers for workers in Mussafah Industrial Area.

This coordinated effort is part of a series of measures that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has implemented since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis to ensure the safety of residents and workers in the UAE. This visit was done in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA).

The Indian Ambassador, Philippines Ambassador, Pakistan Ambassador, the Person in Charge of the Consular Affairs at the Egypt Embassy each visited the new centers to witness firsthand measures implemented by the UAE for their nationals from the workers category, in order to provide them with the needful in terms of healthcare and ensure access to examination centers for all social categories.

Khalid Abdullah Belhoul, undersecretary of the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, stressed the UAE’s keenness to jointly cooperate with concerned entities.

The Ministry also strives to facilitate the mission of foreign representatives in the country to take all precautionary measures and to ensure the health and safety of their citizens and spread awareness on the preventive measures necessary to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Belhoul hailed the efforts of SEHA to support the National Screening Program and provide COVID-19 tests to the largest possible number of residents of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi by opening a new medical examination center in Mussafah Industrial Area.

The center aims to conduct 335,000 tests for residents and workers in that area over the next two weeks.

Mohammed Hawas Al-Sadid, executive director of external therapeutic services — SEHA, said: “We thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for its support to the national screening program and for inviting the ambassadors of communities that most benefit from these centers to witness the swiftness of procedures and services provided to their nationals.

“The National Screening Program reflects the interest of the UAE and its government give to the health and safety of all citizens and residents and their keenness to facilitate safe and easy access to testing centers.

“This strategic project is part of efforts exerted to contain the spread of COVID-19, as it increases the number of daily testing capacity in Abu Dhabi by 80%, as the center covers over 3500 square meters receives an average of 10,000 people per day.”

The diplomats praised the efforts of all parties in the country while affirming the UAE’s role and proactive approach to contain the spread of COVID-19, which reassuring stance for their citizens in the UAE. — WAM