Theyab bin Mohamed greets Niger on eliminating river blindness

Sharjah 24 – WAM: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, welcomed a delegation of Indian-American leaders, led by Dr Bharat H Barai, Chairman of the US-India Friendship Council, in Abu Dhabi. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation and explore partnership opportunities between the two sides.

Role of the reaching the last Mile Fund (RLMF)

The achievement, which has been verified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), was made possible in part through the support of the Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF), a multi-donor fund established in 2017 by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In partnership with countries and with support from other funders, RLMF aims to accelerate the elimination of two neglected tropical diseases, river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, in Africa and Yemen.

Economic and social impact in Niger

By eliminating river blindness, Niger has created an estimated USD$2.3 billion in economic benefits. The country added more than 17.8 billion working hours as families with river blindness-infected members were able to rejoin the workforce, boosting GDP. Women, who make up a disproportionate percentage of caregivers, have been able to work again and reinvest 90 percent of their earnings in their families and communities. Additionally, young girls treated for river blindness are likely to achieve higher levels of education and higher wages.

A step toward a healthier future

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed said, “Under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we congratulate Niger on this historic achievement. Today’s announcement reflects decades of effort and persistence by the government and people of Niger to bring an end to river blindness, and is a tangible step towards a healthier future. The UAE is proud to support the global movement to end neglected tropical diseases and to ensure no one is left behind in our pursuit of a healthier and more equitable world.”

The path to elimination of river blindness

The WHO’s verification is the culmination of nearly 50 years of collaboration in West Africa to control or eliminate river blindness. RLMF partnered with Niger’s Ministry of Health to collect and file evidence supporting the claim for the elimination of transmission of this debilitating disease.

Expanding RLMF's reach

RLMF, established in 2017, initially launched with a USD$100 million fund dedicated to eliminating river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in seven countries in Africa and Yemen. Its founders announced in December 2023 an expansion to target USD$500 million in support of eliminating both diseases from Africa and Yemen by 2030.