Qatari officials visit UNMC to discuss biosecurity efforts ahead of 2022 World Cup

Members of the Qatar National Committee for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (NCPW) recently visited with leaders from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) to discuss potential collaborative efforts on developing Qatar as a leader in biosecurity ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

The group, which included Major General Nasser Al-Ali, NCPW Senior Consultant Jameela Al-Ajmi, expert assistant and Qatari Royal Family member Nouf Al-Thani, and Moza Al Ishaq, had the opportunity to tour UNMC’s biocontainment unit, the iEXCEL Technology Laboratory, the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, UNMC’s innovation hub and the Joslyn Art Museum.

At each stop, the delegation discussed models for simulation and training programs delivered by UNMC’s College of Public Health and its Global Center for Training and Education.

“The government of Qatar wants to serve as a regional and global resource for health security and showcase these efforts in preparation for the millions of expected visitors who will attend the World Cup,” group host Ali S. Khan said.

At the conclusion of their visit, the delegation then traveled to Washington, D.C. where they met with University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds and a number of representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), National Strategic Institute, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

A country of 2.6 million citizens, Qatar carries the distinction of having the highest gross domestic product per capita in the world. By hosting the 2022 World Cup, Qatar will become the first Middle Eastern and first Arab-majority country to ever host the tournament.