Dubai: The Executive Council’s health and safety committee held a meeting on Wednesday, and discussed the means to achieve the health and safety objectives outlined in Dubai’s 2015 Strategic Plan.

The meeting touched on an initiative that allows volunteers to learn first aid, aiming to provide emergency health-care services to members of society. The initiative will foster the principle of volunteer work, while training the volunteers on how to provide first did during the events season, crises, and catastrophes, said officials.

The initiative will provide public awareness and strengthen the emirate’s preparations for hosting the Expo 2020, by providing the largest number of skilled volunteers trained in first aid.

The meeting discussed the steps necessary to make the initiative a success, such as upgrading the local laws and regulations regarding volunteer work, conducting a number of related studies, and holding specialised workshops.

The meeting was held at the committee’s headquarters in Emirates Towers and was overseen by Hussain Nasser Lootah, Chairman of the Health and Safety Committee. Several general managers and officials specialising in the health and safety sectors attended the meeting, including the Secretary-General of the Dubai Executive Council, Abdullah Al Shaibani.

The committee also discussed how to develop health-care services, environmental safety, general and professional safety and ensure the safety of all forms of transportation.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed the latest developments listed on the health and safety agenda for 2014, reviewing the set schedule for every project in accordance with the previously laid out work plan, and discussing the latest developments.

A brief presentation was made during the meeting concerning a future study on bed capacity and health services in Dubai from 2014 to 2025. The presentation focused on the statistics showing the number of beds available and the number expected in the future with the increasing economic growth in the UAE. The study also discussed the need for available emergency rooms, number of physicians, nurses, outpatient clinics, and other essential health services before 2025.