UAE marks 35 Years in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases

UAE Marks 35 Years of Leadership in Combatting Neglected Tropical Diseases

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has been a leader in the global fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) for the past 35 years, starting in 1990 with a significant contribution from the nation’s Founding Father, the late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His donation of USD 5.77 million to The Carter Centre helped launch efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease, marking the beginning of the UAE’s long-standing commitment to combatting these diseases.

The UAE will join the international community tomorrow to observe World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, an event officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021, following persistent diplomatic efforts spearheaded by the UAE in collaboration with global partners. The program was initially unveiled in 2019 at the Reaching the Last Mile Forum in Abu Dhabi, emphasizing the UAE’s leadership in tackling global health issues.

President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s establishment of the Reaching the Last Mile Fund in 2017 was one of the most significant developments in the worldwide battle against NTDs. The global campaign to eradicate NTDs has advanced significantly thanks in large part to this financing. The fund’s budget was raised from USD 100 million to USD 500 million in December 2023, when the UAE hosted COP28.
The expansion aims to broaden the initiative’s impact, extending its reach from seven countries to 39 nations across Africa and Yemen, providing a much-needed boost to the battle against these diseases.

The CEO of the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), Simon Bland, underlined the effort’s global importance by pointing out that NTDs impact more than one billion people globally. In order to expedite the elimination of these illnesses, he urged greater cooperation, emphasizing the necessity of a coordinated effort to tackle this persistent worldwide health emergency.

Dr. Farida Al Hosani, GLIDE’s deputy chief executive officer, considered how the Abu Dhabi-based organization may carry on the UAE’s tradition of promoting global health projects. In addition to improving the lives of billions of people, she said, the UAE’s dedication to eradicating NTDs is consistent with its larger global health goal.
Dr. Al Hosani reaffirmed the moral need to eradicate these illnesses and underlined that societies and nations must work together to accomplish this. This supports the UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the “Year of Community,” which emphasizes the value of teamwork.

WHO has set ambitious targets for global control of NTDs, with a goal of reducing the number of people requiring treatment by 90% by 2030. The organization aims to reduce by 75% the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with NTDs, in addition to urging 100 countries to eliminate at least one NTD and two diseases globally.

The 21 disorders known as NTDs affect more than 1.6 billion people worldwide. These diseases cause serious health problems, disabilities and sometimes blindness. Affected communities often have chronic difficulties that limit their ability to thrive. The UAE’s initiative in combating NTDs demonstrates its leadership in international health and its commitment to improving the quality of life of people affected by these terrible diseases.