Bahrain’s COVID-19 battle gets the praise of British Parliament

TDT | Manama

Bahrain’s efforts to battle the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak received the praise of British Parliament yesterday during a video lecture organised to discuss ‘Bahrain’s efforts to confront the Corona Virus’ by the embassy of Bahrain in London. 

Deputy Speaker of the House, Nigel Evans, Rehman Chishti, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Shadow Minister (Defence Affairs) in the British Parliament, Khalid Mahmood, several politicians and parliamentarians were present.

Participants praised Bahrain’s effort in combating the virus and efforts to help both the citizens and the residents here alike - morally, medically and financially. The meeting also praised Bahrain’s efforts to return UK nationals through Bahrain International airport. 

Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Ambassador of Bahrain to the United Kingdom, said the large presence of British representatives for the event confirms the depth of cooperation between the two countries and joint interest to benefit from the experience of each other in battling the pandemic. 

The ambassador discussed a series of measures taken by the Kingdom, which attracted praises from the international organisations.  For his part, Ambassador Roderick Drummond, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bahrain stressed the deep-rooted cooperation between the two countries and thanked the assistance provided by the Kingdom to evacuate British nations from India and other countries through Bahrain’s airport. 

The ambassador appreciated the efforts of the Kingdom in providing full health care support to all citizens and residents as well as providing economic assistance for companies and individuals to tide over the pandemic.

Ausamah bin Abdullah Al Absi, Chief Executive of the Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and Head of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Committee, reviewed the measures adopted by Bahrain, especially in examining and treating expatriate labourers during the outbreak. 

He said the isolation centres are fully paid by the government for those who do not have sufficient space in their homes to conduct preventive isolation. 

The government, he said, is also providing needly workers with meals daily.  He also expressed his happiness in the increasing number of recoveries in the Kingdom, thanks to the contact tracing system and systematic checks which have increased to nearly 8,000 per day.

Colonel Bob Stewart, President of the Parliamentary Friendship Group said the lecture allowed learning about the successful experience in fighting the pandemic, calling on all to benefit from the experience of Bahrain in battling the infection.