A photographic exhibition celebrating Qatar’s healthcare workforce and their efforts during the current pandemic has opened in the courtyard of Doha’s Fire Station arts complex. The exhibition, launched to coincide with the biennial WISH Summit for Health, which will take place virtually from November 15-19, 2020, features individuals who between them represent the many different faces of healthcare in Qatar.
As well as frontline healthcare workers, such as doctors, nurses, and paramedics, the exhibition also features those working behind the scenes as part of efforts to keep the community safe. Those chosen to take part in the exhibition are members of teams at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), and the Ministry of Public Health.
Across the exhibition, thirteen men and women are depicted – both masked, as they would be at work, and unmasked, as they would be when at home. Those featured represent a cross-section of a workforce of more than 40,000 people employed across the health sector in Qatar.
In addition to viewing the portraits of 13 health sector workers, visitors to the open-air WISH gallery, which was developed with the support of The Fire Station, HMC, PHCC and the Ministry of Public Health, can hold their phones in front of QR codes on each image and hear those pictured talk about their working life and about the departments they represent.
Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, commented: “This year, more than ever before, the role of healthcare professionals has been valued here in Qatar and around the world. Throughout Qatar’s comprehensive strategy to confront COVID-19 our healthcare teams in the health sector have been at the forefront of the country’s response.
“They have worked round-the-clock, under enormous pressure, to ensure we deliver the best healthcare services, not only to patients affected by COVID-19, but also to the many thousands of non-COVID-19 patients who still relied on our essential services. I feel incredibly honored to be part of such a skilled and dedicated workforce of healthcare heroes.”
Sultana Afdhal, CEO of WISH, said: “WISH is a global health initiative but, as part of the Qatar Foundation family, our home is very much Doha, so we’ve been glad of the opportunity to use our summit to celebrate and thank those who are currently doing vital work, often in very difficult circumstances.”
The photographs were taken by award-winning Qatar-based photographer Mahmoud El Achi, who is also WISH’s Head of Innovation. He added: “It was a privilege meeting the different people we featured and to hear their stories as they posed for their portraits. I hope the images reflect the passion for their work that each of them clearly possessed.”
The “Healthcare Heroes” exhibition will run until at least the end of the year. They can also be seen as part of a series of exhibitions within a virtual gallery within Virtual WISH 2020.
