By Staff Reporter
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has launched a major humanitarian initiative aimed at eliminating river blindness, a disease that continues to affect millions in vulnerable communities across Africa and other regions.
The programme, launched under the umbrella of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), is expected to benefit more than 42 million people over the next three years. This includes seven million direct beneficiaries and approximately 35.4 million indirect beneficiaries.
The initiative will be implemented by Noor Dubai, a UAE humanitarian organisation focused on combating preventable blindness and visual impairment worldwide.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of restoring hope and dignity to affected communities, saying that fighting blindness means fighting “darkness and disability” while empowering people to live better lives.
The event was attended by senior members of Dubai’s leadership, including Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and other members of the royal family.
As part of the initiative, Noor Dubai will coordinate large-scale medicine distribution campaigns, conduct community health surveys, and train local healthcare workers in affected areas. The programme also supports the World Health Organization roadmap for eliminating river blindness between 2021 and 2030.
River blindness, medically known as onchocerciasis, is caused by parasitic worms transmitted through blackfly bites. The disease can result in severe skin problems, intense itching, visual impairment, and permanent blindness. In some cases, infected children may also develop epilepsy.
The UAE has played an active role in global efforts against neglected tropical diseases. Its support helped establish World Neglected Tropical Disease Day, officially recognised by the WHO in 2021 following discussions at the “Reaching the Last Mile” forum held in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
Since its establishment in 2008, Noor Dubai has reached more than 33 million people across Asia and Africa through treatment, prevention, and healthcare capacity-building programmes. Meanwhile, MBRGI, founded in 2015, has delivered more than AED 13.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to approximately 788 million people in 118 countries.
Source: Emirates News Agency
