President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s renewed confidence in Cabinet members mandates that they intensify their efforts to address issues of national importance, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, told the Cabinet on Sunday.
Welcoming new Cabinet members on board, Shaikh Mohammad said the ministers should devote themselves to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the UAE by addressing key priorities concerning socio-economic development.
“The expectations from you are high, the confidence in you is big, the priorities are clear, people of the UAE deserve the best,” Shaikh Mohammad said, exhorting his Cabinet members to embrace the spirit of teamwork to improve services rendered to UAE citizens.
“We work with one vision under one leader and improvement of services tops the priority list,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Shaikh Mohammad stressed that the people of the UAE challenge underperformance and mediocrity. “Government’s success is judged by the society and the people’s satisfaction with the government can be achieved… The nation can only achieve progress through overcoming great challenges.”
Draft law
The Cabinet approved a draft law concerning communicable disease surveillance, forecasting and response programme to develop capacities for preparedness planning, prevention, prompt detection, characterisation and the containment and control of emerging and re-emerging diseases, including epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases.
The bill provides for establishing specialised clincis at border checkpoints to control these diseases, quarantine measures and obligatory curing. It also covers measures to close educational institutions, cinema theatres and other facilities in the outbreak of any such disease.
The overall objective of the programmes is to contribute to the reduction of communicable disease burden through the implementation of integrated disease surveillance and response systems.
The Ministry of Health and local health departments across the country coordinate efforts and implement plans in this regard.
Visa screening is a mandatory health investigation for all applicants for residence in UAE. It consists mainly of screening for Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV), pulmonary tuberculosis and leprosy. Screening for Hepatitis B virus and syphilis has been limited to a few occupational categories since the end of 2010.
Daycare facilities
The Cabinet also approved a draft law presented by the Ministry of Social Affairs, concerning daycare facilities for children.
The bill is meant to regulate childcare facilities in the country and establish professional, health and safety and environmental standards for these facilities.
The UAE has 345 private daycare centres in addition to 21 nurseries at governmental bodies.
The Cabinet approved more than Dh431 million in additional allocations required by 11 federal authorities.
It also waived custom duties on cars and wheelchairs for people with special needs, when and if imported from GCC member countries.
The Cabinet endorsed a recommendation from the Federal Customs Authority to join the World Customs Organisation’s Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILO) of the World Customs Organisation Network, which was created to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of customs enforcement around the world.
The RILO network consists of 11 liaising offices world-wide, including offices in the Russian Federation (Commonwealth of Independent States), Poland (Central and Eastern Europe), Germany (Western Europe) and China (Asia and the Pacific).
Air cargo agreements
The Cabinet also approved four air cargo agreements with Bosnia, Cambodia, Laos and Cote d’Ivoire and another agreement with Argentina regarding peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which last until 2023.
Before the meeting, Shaikh Mohammad met former minister of energy Mohammad Bin Dhaen Al Hamili and thanked him for the distinguished efforts he made in the service of his nation as an active member of the cabinet.
“The homeland will never forget dedication of its loyal children nor the marks they left on its development drive. The expertise that accumulated over the years will be a reliable asset for the nation which can be used in the service of the nation through new fields and roles,” Shaikh Mohammad added.
He wished Al Hamili success in his life and future career in serving his homeland.
