The UAE continues its multilateral efforts and initiatives to achieve a world free of neglected tropical diseases that affect the lives of more than 1.6 billion people, in commitment to humanitarian approaches and principles based on helping people in need and paying attention to human safety and health in various countries of the world. Tomorrow, the UAE will join the countries of the world in celebrating the World Day of Neglected Tropical Diseases, which is being held this year under the slogan “We Unite.” We work. We achieve the goal.” The World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day was adopted thanks to the UAE’s pioneering diplomatic efforts with its partners. This day was announced at the Reaching the Last Mile Forum in 2019 in Abu Dhabi, and the World Health Organization officially recognized it in 2021.

The event, which falls on January 30 of each year, aims to strengthen the efforts of global health authorities and involve government institutions and the general public in urgent efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases that affect one in every 5 people in the world. The UAE has a legacy of more than three decades of commitment to combating neglected tropical diseases. In 1990, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, made a generous personal donation to the Carter Center to support efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease, which is one of the neglected tropical diseases. This step represented the first commitment of the UAE leadership to eliminating A disease that has lasted for decades.