Tribune News Network
Doha
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation, on Wednesday attended the opening of the 7th edition of Qatar Foundation’s biennial World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), held in Doha at Qatar National Convention Centre.
The two-day event, taking place on November 13 and 14, is themed ‘Humanising Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience’ and underscores the need for health innovation that supports everyone, leaves no one behind, and builds resilience, particularly for vulnerable communities and in regions affected by armed conflict.
Speakers at the opening ceremony included Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, former Minister of Public Health; Lord Darzi of Denham, executive chair of WISH; and Dr Christos Christou, president of Médecins Sans Frontières.
In her opening remarks, Dr Kuwari said, "Under the visionary leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, WISH continues to expand as a global community committed to making healthcare accessible and humane.
"At WISH, we strive to present the world’s most cutting-edge ideas and scientific advancements. But we also focus on confronting the urgent challenges before us, particularly given that Qatar holds a firm belief in our shared responsibility to foster understanding, drive progress, and uphold the spirit of global cooperation.”
She added, "This year’s theme, ‘Humanising Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience’, reflects our commitment to addressing the profound health challenges people face worldwide, especially those who have, and continue to endure unimaginable hardships. The toll of war and displacement has tested humanity’s resilience and underscored the urgent need for peace, health and protection.”
Lord Darzi of Denham spoke of challenges faced by those working to provide care during armed conflict
He said, "War is a healthcare catastrophe. There can never be any justification for targeting healthcare personnel or infrastructure – it is purely and simply wrong. We must stand together to condemn such actions and honour those who courageously continue to provide care in the most appalling conditions.”
Reflecting on the summit theme of conflict, equity, and resilience, Dr Christou said he was gravely concerned that attacks on healthcare facilities and workers have become the "new norm”.
"We need to know that there is a place that is respected, and that place is a hospital. We are scrambling without basic medicines, anesthetics or antibiotics. There are many doctors in Gaza who are amputating on children without anesthetic, for example,” Dr Christou said.
When asked about the neutrality of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), he reiterated that the values of the organisation remain consistent, and they treat all in need, but doctors "have a mandate to bear witness, to be a voice of the voiceless.… Neutrality means many things, but it does not mean silence.”
A film shown during the opening ceremony told the story of 11-year-old Dareen Al Bayaa, a Palestinian girl who lost 47 members of her extended family on October 22, 2023 as a result of a devastating attack on her home in Gaza, with only Dareen and her five-year-old brother surviving and being taken to Doha for medical treatment.
"Why is it OK for me to suffer? Is this fair?” asked Dareen in the film.
Ahead of the summit, WISH entered into a strategic partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), collaborating on the development of a series of evidence-based reports and policy papers, as well as working with the United Nations’ health agency to develop a post-summit implementation strategy.
Day one of the summit hosted discussion forums based on reports published by WISH and the WHO, alongside roundtable discussions and open sessions.
The first main discussion of the day was based on the joint WISH and WHO 2024 report titled ‘In the line of fire: Protecting health in armed conflict’, chaired by Richard Brennan, Regional Emergency Director of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the WHO.
He was joined by expert speakers including Yousuf Al Khater, president of Qatar Red Crescent Society; and Sigrid Kaag, United Nations’ Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza.
The summit has brought together more than 200 experts in health to discuss evidence-based ideas and practices in healthcare innovation with the aim of addressing the world’s most urgent global health challenges.