The Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking is seeking to develop a national action plan for combating trafficking in humans that will meet international standards.
The Foundation yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Protection Project at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC that will enable cooperation between the two institutions in developing policies and mechanisms for combating trafficking in humans.
The MoU was signed by Mariam Al Malki, director of the Foundation and Dr Mohamed Mattar, executive director of the Protection Project.
The Protection Project is a human rights research institute based at the Foreign Policy Institute at SAIS.
The activities of the Project include development of a human rights-based approach to trafficking in humans and advocacy for the protection of the rights of victims of trafficking against all forms of exploitation
Speaking at a joint press conference after signing the agreement, the officials said a major area of cooperation was to promote research to assess the extent of the problem in Qatar and in the region and identify the victims.
“Lack of information is a major problem that most countries are facing in this field. We will work together to establish a database in Qatar that will help identify the causes of the problem and find solutions. The MoU will also help the Foundation to develop legislation as well as a national plan for combating trafficking in humans, that will meet international standards,” said Mattar.
Malki said Qatar had gone a long way in combating trafficking in persons and the new agreement would enable the Foundation to become a prominent regional centre dedicated to this task.
“Women and children are the most vulnerable to trafficking in humans. Qatar is not totally free from this menace, but it has not become a phenomenon in the country. The MoU will help us develop more practical steps to combat this problem,” said Al Malki.
The press conference was followed by a seminar focusing on various aspects of trafficking, with participation of experts from various Arab and GCC countries including Iraq, Jordan and Tunisia.
Original Article from: The Peninsula
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Artificial heart awaits nod for Qatar trials
The European Aeronautics Defence & Space, better known as EADS, is busy working on implanting its recently developed innovative artificial human heart among patients in Qatar.
EADS and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) held several rounds of discussions and are waiting for the nod of top government authorities to go ahead for the clinical trial, sources revealed to The Peninsula.
Biomedical firm Carmat, a start-up funded by the EADS - the parent company of passenger jet maker Airbus - after its 15-year-secret-project had come out with the vastly improved artificial human heart in October last year claiming that the new device could represent a major breakthrough for millions of people around the world who suffer from cardiovascular diseases, of whom more than 10 million die every year. “We are on the verge of starting clinical trials; and pending the approval of French and Qatari medical authorities, the artificial heart could be implanted in the first human patient within three years,” said Mohamed S Al Kuwari, General Manager EADS Competence Centre of Qatar (CCQ), a partner company of QSTP.
“The HMC is very much interested in the project. We held several rounds of discussions with the HMC experts. There has to be more research ahead of the clinical trial. We are waiting for the final nod for the trial from higher authorities,” Al Kuwari told this newspaper over phone from Germany.
“The project is part of the recently launched EADS Competence Centre of Qatar at QSTP. The CCQ is very optimistic about Qatar becoming the first country to implant an artificial human heart in the region. The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned made very encouraging comments when they visited the CCQ on the inaugural day of QSTP,” he said.
Earlier, talking to The Peninsula, a top Carmat official from France said a team of 30 experts are working on the project. “We have successfully completed the clinical trial among animals. If everything goes well Hamad will perform the first artificial human heart transplantation by 2011”.
On the newly-developed heart’s advantages over its earlier versions, he said, it employs two internal pumps to move blood to the lungs and into the body, rather than the single pump typical of earlier designs.
The new design also uses cutting-edge biopolymer material that promise to reduce the formation of dangerous blood clots — a persistent problem with early artificial hearts — and may even spare patients from needing to use nettlesome anticoagulant drugs.
Feedback sensors and software can adjust the heart’s speed and pressure depending on the exertion level of the wearer, permitting a vastly greater range of physical activity.
The immediate goal is to develop about 20 artificial hearts that can be implanted into patients over the next two years. At first, the devices will be given only to people who would otherwise die.
The cost of Carmat heart is expected to be slightly less than a human heart transplant, which averages about $250,000 in the US and an additional $20,000 per year in a follow-up treatment.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. It is the first international company to participate in the expansion of QSTP by operating its Competence Centre in the science park.
Qatari and US troops in joint exercise
Qatari and American military forces are conducting a two-week joint military exercise designed to build and improve cooperation between both military forces and strengthen the defensive capabilities of both nations. During Exercise Eastern Maverick 2009, which began on March 28, elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, including Marines and sailors will conduct a number of training exercises alongside the Qatari military, including small-unit vehicle training and live-fire exercises, as well as pilot training with the
Qatari Air Force.
US Ambassador to Qatar Joseph LeBaron said: “The military relationship is a vital part of our bilateral relations with Qatar — a relationship that the United States values deeply.” A US Marine explains a point about infantry patrolling to his Qatari counterparts during the ongoing Exercise Eastern Maverick 2009.
The ambassador added that the exercise, which is conducted annually, provides an excellent opportunity for both militaries to renew and strengthen the bonds that are vital to understanding and working with
one another.
The US Marines and sailors are also taking time off from their exercise schedule to learn more about Qatari culture through visits to local schools and friendly sporting events with their Qatari military colleagues.
Lt-Colonel Tye R Wallace, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/1 assigned to the 13th MEU, said: “Exercises like this one provide important opportunities for us to work more closely together with our friends in the region, thereby helping to enhance understanding, security and stability throughout the Middle East.”
“Understanding and communication are vital to a strong friendship, and these exercises are an excellent opportunity for us to further develop both of these with our Qatari friends,” he added.
The US Marines and sailors participated in a friendly game of volleyball on the first night of the exercise with several
Qatari soldiers.
“It is good for integration and to get to know each other in one way or another,” said Major Adel Ali Al Saadi, a maintenance officer for the Qatar Maintenance Corps. “It’s a way to break down the barriers.”
“We should do this every time during exercises – it builds unity and friendship,” said Staff Sergeant Steve D Oldham, 3rd platoon sergeant for Company B, BLT 1/1. “This helps strengthen relationships with our host nation, which is important.”
“I think it was a great game,” said Pfc. Abdul Rahman, a rocketman in the Qatari Emiri Land Forces. “This created a good team environment for the upcoming training between us and the Marines.”
The 13th MEU is embarked aboard Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group ships deployed to the US Fifth Fleet area of operations to conduct Maritime Security Operations.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Germany relations take a healthy turn
A high-level delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Health is scheduled to visit Qatar from May 6 – 8 in a bid to bolster relations as well as co-operation between the two countries’ ministries of health.The delegation, expected to be led by parliamentary state secretary and deputy health minister Marion Caspers-Merk, will be accompanied by a business delegation comprising representatives of the healthcare sector and medical technology experts.
Christian Lindenau, managing director of Germany-based Gepa2 GmbH, who was on a preparatory mission to Doha recently, said the entrepreneurs would meet with the representatives of Qatar’s health sector such as the Ministry of Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medical and Research Centre, as well as the Qatar Chambers of Commerce.
Caspers-Merk was planning to hold a meeting with HE Sheikha Dr Ghalia bint Mohamed al-Thani and representatives of the HMC board to discuss health issues, he said, adding that she also hoped to meet the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability HE Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa al-Thani.
“German leads in medical expertise and Qatar is adopting modern medical technology as it strives to be a leader in the medical field within the Arab region,” he said, adding, “More than 12 companies will be making presentations about their healthcare products.”
“We have come to realise that Qatar is willing to invest in quality medical products and that the Qatari government is also looking to strengthen bilateral relations with any forward looking country,” he noted while adding that he hoped Caspers-Merk would initiate projects with Sidra Medical on its planned state-of-the-art hospitals.
Lindenau said the agenda included an exchange of expertise between the two countries in terms of medical training courses and field experience.
Lindenau has met with senior officials at the Ministry of Health, Sidra Medical and HMC during his visit to Qatar.
Original Article from: Gulftimes
Qatar becoming popular place for events and meetings: survey
Qatar is becoming a popular destination for meetings organisers in the Middle East, says a Middle East Meetings Industry research report 2009.The report, presented at the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), the largest meetings trade show in the Middle East concluding today in Abu Dhabi, states that Qatar is being recognised as an emerging quality destination for meetings and events, with a promising future, by peers, buyers and counterparts.
Twelve per cent of buyers questioned in the survey declared - having organised an event in Qatar in 2008, which ranks the country as the 7th favourite destination among the Arab states - that buyers will increase their use of Qatar as a meetings destination by 10.5 % in the next 12 months.
When coming to ratings of the experience at the destinations, Qatar moves to the 6th position, with more than 55% of buyers rating Qatar as a very good destination for services, quality and the range of cultural activities, according to the report.
Participating in the GIBTM was the Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, which received record numbers of event organisers and buyers visiting the stand to find out more about Qatar as a business and upscale leisure destination and investigate new commercial partnerships designed to bring more visitors to Qatar.
Among notable guests to the QTEA stand was the chairman of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and Tourism Development and Investment Company Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon al-Nahyan.
QTEA’s head of Promotion and Organising Exhibitions Abroad, Soha Moussa, said: “We are delighted of the success we met during the first two days of the exhibition. GIBTM is a show of quality, fitting perfectly our strategy of attracting meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions buyers. There’s an increasing positive echo about Qatar as a surging destination from the Middle East, as well as from Europe and from Asia.”
Staged annually in Abu Dhabi, GIBTM is a three-day business to business event presenting a diverse range of destinations, products and services from around 250 organisations from the region and around the world. The event brings together meetings and incentives professionals from the Gulf and Middle East region as well as from around the world.
QTEA will also participate in other international exhibitions, such as Arabian Travel Market in Dubai and IMEX, the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel meetings, to be held in Frankfurt.
Original Article from: Gulf Times
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