Minister of Health and NIHR Chairperson hold a meeting via video conference
A via video conference was held on Friday March 27 between HE Mrs. Faeqa bint Saeed Al-Saleh, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Ms. Maria Khoury, Chairperson of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), during which they discussed the procedures of the Ministry to apply human rights standards in facing Coronavirus in places of isolation, quarantine and examination. The Minister gave a full explanation of the places of isolation and quarantine as well as the capacity and precautionary measures in this regard. The Minister explained that the capacity and actual numbers reveal that there is no overcrowding in the places designated for isolation or quarantine.
Ms. Khoury expressed the NIHR’s full appreciation for the transparency and clarity in the continuous detection and announcement of the numbers of infections and recoveries. She also stated that the precautionary and preventive measures in those places must take into consideration the various human rights, especially the right to health and the right to personal freedom.
On her part, Mrs. Faeqa welcomed the NIHR’s plan to conduct field visits to places of isolation and quarantine, in activation of its supervisory role stipulated in Article (12/g) of its Incorporation Law No. (26) of 2014, and to meet medical teams and some of the isolated and quarantined people in order to obtain their opinions on the procedures taken and be closely familiarized with the healthcare and support services provided to them in consistency with the preventive measures recognized by the World Health Organization.
The NIHR appreciates the unswerving national humanitarian efforts led by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, First Deputy Prime Minister to counter the emerging Coronavirus (Covid-19), and the successes achieved through the work of the national team to combat this virus, and calls on all citizens and residents to abide by formal procedures and health and preventive directives issued by the National Committee and its supporting bodies.
The NIHR also appreciates the government’s alternative and emergency plans aimed at ensuring the provision of food and healthcare to all citizens and residents, which reflects the State’s concern for the right to health and the right to food and water, the application of health monitoring and the protection of public health for all without any violation of personal freedoms.
