Gulf Today

Mohammed praises country’s diverse and tolerant culture

- STAFF REPORTER

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, his highness sheikh mo hammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in a series of tweets on Wednesday praised the UAE’S diverse society and tolerance.

Sheikh Mohammed made the statement ahead of the Internatio­nal Day for Tolerance, which falls on Nov.16.

Sheikh Mohammed took to Twitter and said, “Tolerance is synonymous with the UAE. It is a fundamenta­l value of our people and an essential element for our developmen­t and prosperity in the future.”

“We have named Dubai’s one of most beautiful bridges Tolerance Bridge, in honour of this day. Bridges

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, launched the Reaching the Last Mile Fund to raise US$100 million with the aim of eradicatin­g, eliminatin­g, and controllin­g preventabl­e diseases that hinder the health and economic prospects of the world’s poorest people.

The Fund was launched during Sheikh Mohamed’s attendance of the global health forum, ‘Reaching the Last Mile: Together to Eliminate Infectious Diseases,’ held in Abu Dhabi on

Wednesday evening.

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed committed $20 million to the Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will contribute up to $20 million. The Fund will be managed by the END Fund, a philanthro­pic investment platform focused on tackling the ive most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDS).

The aim of this 10-year Fund is to support the eliminatio­n of two debilitati­ng and preventabl­e neglected diseases: river blindness (onchocerci­asis) and lymphatic filariasis (which can lead to elephantia­sis).

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said. “The UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, continues to provide regional and internatio­nal support for humanitari­an, developmen­tal and health initiative­s that target countries and communitie­s in need. The launch of this Fund is part of internatio­nal efforts to rid the world of two debilitati­ng and preventabl­e diseases.”

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed added that neglected diseases continue to hinder the lives of millions across the Middle East and Africa. Eliminatin­g them will have a positive multifacet­ed impact by lifting millions more across the region out of poverty, but to achieve these goals, there is an urgent need for long-term vision and global partnershi­ps.

 ?? WAM ?? Dr Maha Tayseer Barakat, Director General of HAAD, delivers a speech during the Global Health Forum.
WAM Dr Maha Tayseer Barakat, Director General of HAAD, delivers a speech during the Global Health Forum.

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