Abu Dhabi (WAM)
Over the past decade, the cooperation between the UAE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has achieved a number of global health initiatives and major achievements. Global health initiatives that are jointly supported by both sides contribute to improving the lives of hundreds of millions of people in different regions of the world. The Niger declaration to complete the necessary assessments to certify the eradication of “river blindness” is one of the most significant achievements in the fight against neglected tropical diseases that have resulted in joint efforts. Since its launch in 2011, the partnership between the UAE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has expanded to include a group of last mile initiatives that seek to invest in a sustainable way to support global health issues that include the eradication of infectious diseases. These initiatives enjoy a common commitment, and stem from the commitment to eradicate polio by supporting the global initiative to eradicate polio, to address other global health issues.. The initiatives to reach the last mile derive support and impetus from the personal commitment of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
In the context of supporting polio eradication efforts, the UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provided financial support for the Global Initiative to End Polio, and the two sides cooperated in hosting major events to attract key actors in the global health community to advance progress and increase funding. The UAE has also harnessed its capabilities and capabilities to ensure field access to the last child in Pakistan through the UAE polio vaccination campaign, which was able to reach previously inaccessible communities, and provide them with polio vaccines and health aid.. Thanks to these efforts and the efforts of other partners, campaigns have achieved The fight against polio has encouraging results, as Africa was declared free of the wild polio virus in 2020, and the disease is currently endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan only “where only one infection has been reported in Pakistan and 3 cases in Afghanistan so far this year.” Half the world’s population is also at risk of contracting malaria, which continues to be the main cause of death in many countries around the world. The UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are working through long-term joint cooperation with affected countries to develop and implement customized malaria control strategies. .. The donations from both sides to the Global Fund (to which the UAE has contributed since 2019) contribute to saving people by financing antimalarial drugs and bed nets.. Thanks to the efforts of global partners, these contributions saved the lives of about 1.1 million people through preventive measures that been taken over the past decade. The UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation expressed their commitment to continuing efforts to put the eradication of infectious diseases at the top of the global agenda, especially the “eradication of neglected tropical diseases.” Initiatives include the “Reaching the Last Mile Fund” managed by the End Neglected Diseases Fund “END Fund”, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, launched the “Reaching the Last Mile Fund” in 2017, in cooperation with a number of From backers, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the fund’s activities extend for 10 years and amount to $100 million. The Fund is focusing its efforts on eliminating river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in the Sahel region of Africa. When this mission is successful, the Fund will be a pioneer in providing evidence that these diseases can be eradicated on a larger scale. The two sides are also cooperating in support of the initiatives of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, which has been officially recognized within the United Nations agenda, and provides a key platform for global outreach efforts and coherent action, in order to ensure continued financial support. Polio, malaria and neglected tropical diseases programs in general affect communities by building and strengthening health systems. These programs were of great importance in responding to health emergencies, including “Ebola” and “Covid-19,” in addition to creating job opportunities, developing education and building skills by supporting health workers in the field. The cooperation between the two sides contributes to promoting innovation and concerted efforts in the field of global health and beyond, through initiatives such as the Global Institute for the Elimination of Infectious Diseases (GLIDE). GLIDE was founded in 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where it identifies the latest scientific, cultural and global health knowledge, and puts it into practice in cooperation with partners through programs aimed at promoting disease eradication. .
Similarly, the Lives and Lives Matter Fund is the largest multilateral development initiative of its kind in the region, with approved funds exceeding $1.34 billion to support projects across Africa and Asia. The Fund was established by the UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the support of From the Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar, the Fund’s various achievements have included reducing malaria deaths in Senegal and improving rice production across West Africa. The UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are cooperating in hosting forums and meetings through platforms including the Reaching the Last Mile Forum, which brings together global health leaders in Abu Dhabi to emphasize the priority of eliminating disease. Expected aspects of cooperation include the third World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day on January 30, and the next session of the Reaching the Last Mile Forum.
«The Last Mile» .. Treatment, care and prevention
The Reaching the Last Mile initiative includes a set of global health programs aimed at eliminating preventable diseases.. The fund derives its momentum from the personal commitment of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.. While the initiative provides treatment and preventive care to communities that lack health services. appropriate, with special emphasis on the final or “last mile” stage of disease eradication. The fund affirms His Highness’ personal interest in eliminating preventable diseases that affect the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities and helping millions of children and adults to live healthy and dignified lives.
Achievement, responsibility and partnerships
Niger’s achievement in eradicating river blindness underscores what is possible with long-term and sustainable investments, the responsibility of the countries concerned to achieve the goal, and effective public-private partnerships. Innovations and new technologies also play a critical role from accurate data transmitted via satellite. Real-time and geospatial data that allow accurate identification of vector breeding sites at the local village level, to introduce new drugs such as moxidatin, in addition to existing ones, to accelerate the eradication of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in Africa.
.