UAE Minister of State for Happiness urges private sector to launch initiatives that spread happiness in society Providing increased medical care to the public is the focus of government requests of the private sector.

Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness, has urged the private sector to launch humanitarian initiatives to improve the public’s access to medical services, lauding Thumbay Group’s Happiness Hour initiative.

The programme will see the group offer free medical consultations for patients in their hospitals and clinics across the UAE for one hour every Tuesday (4pm-5pm). "This kind of initiative promotes the values of empathy and generosity, so characteristic of Emirati culture," Al Roumi said. "They also underline the private sector’s role as a partner to the government, supporting its national initiatives to achieve its goals."

The programme resonates with the National Happiness and Positivity Programme, which seeks to spread happiness in the UAE, H.E. Al Roumi explained, noting that health is a key factor in creating a happy society.

Al Roumi asserted that health initiatives, such as the Happiness Hour, help realise one of the objectives of the Year of Giving initiative – launched by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE – which calls for making 2017 a year for charity and philanthropy in the UAE. The initiative promotes the values of giving and generosity, she added, which His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, always emphasises.

In addition to Happiness Hour, Thumbay Group launched other free health initiatives, such as the Pink Drive (Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative), the annual Healthy Baby Contest and Exhibition, and Teachers Health Awareness Week.

Thumbay Moideen, Founder and President of Thumbay Group, said the group is proud to be supporting the mission of the Minister of State for Happiness, and complementing the UAE Government’s one-of-a-kind National Happiness and Positivity Programme.

"Adhering to the visionary directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has called on everyone to work to spread happiness throughout the country," Moideen noted, "we, at Thumbay Group, will continue to play our part with this type of initiative, which will be available across all Thumbay hospitals and clinics, as well as all brands under our retail and hospitality divisions."

According to Moideen, this programme "would provide UAE residents access to high-quality healthcare, as well as to our superior retail and hospitality services."

The Happiness Hour concept was inspired by the government’s National Happiness and Positivity Programme, a unique initiative designed to establish an environment that ensures happiness and wellbeing throughout society. Tackling health issues is one of the main focuses of the national programme.