The campaign, part of the Zayed Giving Initiative, complements 2018 being declared as the Year of Zayed.
The one million volunteering hours initiatives also comes in response to the call of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to adopt initiatives and programmes that express our gratitude to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Emirati heart surgeon Dr Adel Al Shameri, CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative and President of Emirates Doctors, said that the campaign is an unprecedented initiative that allows doctors to express their love and gratitude to Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed by participating in the social and humanitarian work of mobile clinics and hospitals operating in the UAE and abroad.
He said the campaign reflects our appreciation to the UAE and its leadership that have spared no effort in providing us with a dignified life.
Moza Al Otaiba, member of the board of trustees of Zayed Giving Initiative, said that the doors are open for all doctors to join the campaign. Al Otaiba pointed out that a comprehensive programme will be put in place to organise the work of volunteers participating in the campaign. She said that volunteers will be allocated a minimum of one hour per week for volunteer work, through which they can either contribute practically or by proposing ideas that can consolidate a culture of giving and strengthen values of loyalty and allegiance.
Dr Shamsa Al Awar, Executive Director of Doctors for Humanity Association, said that the one million hours campaign aims to attract doctors from different public hospitals to alleviate the suffering of needy segments of society. The campaign will adopt a number of diagnosis, curative, surgical, preventative and training programmes. Al Awar pointed out that doctors can work as representatives of the UAE, operating under the framework of volunteer work to serve communities on a local and global level.
