The late H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the then President of the UAE issued Federal Decree No. 95 of 2020 establishing the Frontline Heroes Office. The new entity will be chaired by H. H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and will recognise and support the UAE’s frontline workers in the long term.
The Frontline Heroes Office aims at:
- raising awareness of the key role played by the frontline workers during crises and emergencies
- recognising their efforts and acknowledging their sacrifices
- looking after their needs and addressing their priorities.
Frontline heroes include those working on the frontline in healthcare facilities, as well as in the prevention and protection. It includes healthcare facility staff such as:
- doctors
- nurses
- allied healthcare professionals (laboratory technicians, respiratory therapists, radiographers)
- housekeeping, cleaning, waste disposal
- other staff (porters, security, catering, administrative, pharmacists).
It also includes staff in the prevention and protection such as:
- crisis management on the frontline
- security and emergency services on the frontline
- humanitarian entities on the frontline
- sterilisation on the frontline.
The decree outlines the Office’s mandate, which includes:
- defining the frontline workers and establishing the criteria used to identify them
- preparing and implementing strategies and initiatives to support them, in collaboration with relevant authorities
- instructing relevant entities to build a database of the frontline workers by establishing an online registry interlinking the relevant federal, local or private bodies
- running events, granting rewards, presenting appreciation certificates, and nominating any of the frontline workers to receive honorary medals.
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