UAE supports global efforts in fight against epidemics
In a statement to mark World Malaria Day, the Ministry highlights UAE’S healthcare capabilities in its fight against communicable diseases including COVID-19
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has highlighted the UAE’S tremendous efforts being made in support of the international efforts to reduce global malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030.
In a statement to mark “World Malaria Day,” which took place on Sunday under the theme “Zero Malaria - Draw the Line Against Malaria,” MOHAP stated that the UAE remains at the forefront of world countries in the fight against the spread of epidemics with a brilliant record of achievements locally and globally.
The ministry added, “Not only that but the UAE is considered among the Middle East and North Africa’s (Mena) first countries to be declared a malaria-free country in 2007, something that confirms the state’s outstanding healthcare capabilities in its fight against communicable diseases, including coronavirus (COVID-19).” The UAE’S humanitarian initiatives and financial contributions for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI) and RBM Partnership to End Malaria programme over the past years have played a crucial role in promoting health and treatment programmes, implementing vaccination campaigns, and providing vaccines against many epidemic diseases in the world, such as malaria, cholera, Guinea worm disease, and polio.
According to Federal Law No.14 of 2014 concerning the prevention of communicable diseases, MOHAP has developed an effective strategy and a highly efficient programme for epidemiological surveillance, in cooperation with health authorities, to prevent the spread of malaria, under International Health Regulations to detect and treat incoming passengers and control the spread of insects in cooperation with neighbourhood countries.
The ministry has also established Travelers Clinic, which provides infectious diseases vaccines free of charge to citizens and residents in preventive medicine centres and some selected primary health care centres.
The clinic also offers health education and medications for malaria prevention to those heading to malaria-affected countries.
Recently, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, announced renewed financial support of $10 million to the Carter Centre, following the 30th anniversary of the organisation ’s partnership with the UAE.
The collaboration will continue to work towards global health initiatives and the eradication of the NTD Guinea worm disease. The announcement was made in the lead-up to the second annual World NTD Day on Jan.30, 2021, which aims to raise global awareness for the urgent need to end NTDS.
The partnership was originally initiated by a historic meeting when the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan invited the former US president Jimmy Carter to the UAE for the first time.
Guinea worm disease eradication is closer than ever. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Carter Centre reported that the number of human Guinea worm cases was cut in half to just 27 in 2020 compared to the previous year. The Carter Centre and its partners have reduced the incidence of Guinea worm disease by 99.99 per cent (from approximately 3.5 million cases annually in 1986).
Now this NTD is on track to be the first human disease eradicated since smallpox, and the first disease to be eradicated without the use of vaccines or drugs.
For more than three decades, the Centre has been a leader in the eradication and elimination of NTDS, and today focuses on five NTDS (Guinea worm, trachoma, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis), malaria, and mental health in more than a dozen countries.
The ongoing partnership with The Carter Centre represents a part of the UAE’S larger, decades-long commitment towards global health and over coming some of the world’s most deadly and debilitating diseases including malaria, polio and NTDS.
The country’s commitment to disease elimination is focused on keeping preventable diseases at the top of the political agenda, maintaining progress, raising funding levels, and working closely with global partners and multilateral initiatives to increase impact.