Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has announced a major humanitarian initiative aimed at eliminating river blindness and improving the lives of millions of people suffering from the disease. The programme was launched in Dubai under the supervision of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and will be implemented through Noor Dubai. Officials said the initiative is expected to directly benefit around seven million people and indirectly support more than 35 million individuals over the next three years.

The announcement was made during a high-level gathering attended by several senior members of Dubai’s ruling family and top government officials. Among those present were Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Senior healthcare and humanitarian officials also attended the event, highlighting the importance the UAE places on global healthcare and humanitarian support.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said humanitarian work remains one of the UAE’s strongest values and stressed that helping people regain their health and dignity is a global responsibility. He explained that fighting blindness means fighting suffering, disability and poverty. According to him, the UAE will continue launching humanitarian programmes that improve lives and support vulnerable communities around the world.

River blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, is a serious disease that affects the eyes and skin. It is caused by parasitic worms transmitted through infected blackflies. The disease can lead to severe itching, skin damage, visual impairment and permanent blindness if left untreated. In many cases, patients develop painful skin nodules, while early infection in children can sometimes lead to neurological problems including epilepsy. The disease mainly affects communities in parts of Africa and some areas of Latin America and Asia.

Under the new initiative, Noor Dubai will manage large-scale medicine distribution programmes for prevention and treatment. The organisation will also conduct community health surveys and train local healthcare workers to identify early signs of infection. Officials said the programme is designed to support the global goal of completely eliminating river blindness by the year 2030 in line with the World Health Organization’s roadmap for neglected tropical diseases.

The UAE has played an important role in raising global awareness about neglected tropical diseases in recent years. World Neglected Tropical Disease Day, observed every year on January 30, was strongly supported by UAE diplomatic efforts before being officially recognised by the World Health Organization in 2021. The country has continued investing heavily in international healthcare programmes through humanitarian organisations and global partnerships.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives organisation, established in 2015, currently oversees more than 30 humanitarian and development projects across different sectors including healthcare, education, innovation and disaster relief. Since its establishment, the organisation has reportedly provided humanitarian assistance worth billions of dirhams and supported hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Noor Dubai alone has already helped more than 33 million beneficiaries across Asia and Africa through blindness prevention, treatment programmes, awareness campaigns and mobile medical services.