UAE helps fight malaria in Africa
Roll Back Malaria Partnership says aid will be critical in eradicating disease in Sahel region
The UAE’s financial support will play a key role in controlling the spread of malaria in the Sahel region where cases have been increasing since 2010, a health expert said.
The Sahel region includes countries like Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Gambia.
“The UAE’s support of the Roll Back Malaria [RBM] Partnership is providing a core level of funding that ensures greater and effective impact of our vital work. International communities that continue to suffer from the disease will benefit from this commitment towards the RBM Partnership’s goal of ending malaria worldwide,” Dr Maha Barakat, member of the RBM Partnership board, told Gulf News.
She was speaking ahead of World Malaria Day today.
Last year, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, made a $5-million (Dh18.36-million) three-year contribution to the RBM Partnership. Dr Barakat explained that this grant will be used to support the Partnership’s 201820 plan, which includes a plan to eliminate malaria in the Sahel region by 2030.
“Close to 20 million cases of malaria infection are reported from the region, and about 90 million people are at risk of contracting the disease. Still, countries like Senegal reduced malaria cases by 20 per cent in 2015-16,” Dr Barakat said.
Malaria cases rose for the first time in 2016 when there were 216 million reported cases, and 445,000 deaths globally.