UAE's Beginnings Fund reinforces longstanding commitment to helping mothers, children worldwide
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)The UAE has long been a staunch advocate of maternal and child health around the world, taking a leading role with a range of impactful initiatives, including training healthcare workers, supporting displaced mothers, and strengthening care in conflict zones. These efforts include the newly launched Beginnings Fund — a major philanthropic initiative aimed at preventing more than 300,000 maternal and newborn deaths and improving care for 34 million mothers and babies in Africa by 2030. The fund is backed by a joint $600 million commitment, including $125 million from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, which helped unlock matched support from global partners.Dr. Rahaf Ajaj, Chair of the Environmental and Public Health Department at Abu Dhabi University, explained why the global need for such initiatives is 'incredibly urgent'.
'Globally, hundreds of thousands of women still die during pregnancy and childbirth each year — that's a death almost every two minutes — and over 2 million newborns don't survive their first month. These deaths are overwhelmingly concentrated in low-resource settings, and tragically, most are preventable,' she told Aletihad . Sub-Saharan Africa, which is the primary focus of the Beginnings Fund, faces the highest rates of maternal and newborn mortality in the world, according to Dr. Ajaj.She noted that babies born in that region are 11 times more likely to die in their first month compared to those born in Australia or New Zealand.Most of these deaths stem from preventable causes such as severe bleeding, infections, birth complications, and premature delivery, which could be addressed with proper access to quality healthcare, trained medical staff, essential medicines, and functional health facilities, Dr. Ajaj said. 'That's why initiatives like the Beginnings Fund are so critical. By investing $600 million to strengthen health systems, train staff, equip facilities, and implement proven interventions in 10 African countries, the fund directly targets the root causes of this crisis and aims to bridge the deadly gap in access to quality care,' she added. Dr. Ajaj also pointed out that the Beginnings Fund is designed to strengthen the essential pillars of public health infrastructure required for safe childbirth and newborn care. Its strategy centres on training and supporting healthcare workers, equipping medical facilities with life-saving tools and medications, and implementing proven, low-cost interventions, she explained. The fund also aims to enhance data systems and referral networks to ensure timely, effective care, while leveraging innovation to expand access and improve quality. 'While environmental factors like clean water and sanitation are vital for preventing infections, the fund's announced strategy concentrates mainly on these direct healthcare system improvements – the people, places, products, and processes,' Dr. Ajaj. 'Enhancements in water and sanitation might be part of facility upgrades or addressed through other partnerships, but the core focus is ensuring skilled care is available in a functional health system setting.'
A Track Record of Humanitarian Work But the UAE's contributions extend far beyond a single initiative. A decade earlier, Every Woman Every Child Everywhere initiative was launched in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.This coalition of more than 50 major humanitarian and development organisations promotes a core package of health services that should be accessible to all women and children in crisis settings. It advocates for inclusive models where women serve as first responders and play equal roles in decision-making during humanitarian responses. The initiative is co-chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan and former UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore.In 2022, under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Emirates Red Crescent and the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, launched the Bridge of Hope initiative to train midwives in countries such as Mauritania, Kenya, and Mali. This programme aims to reduce mortality rates in communities where access to obstetric care remains dangerously limited, particularly in refugee settings and fragile environments. It aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, which include reducing neonatal mortality to fewer than 12 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030.On the domestic front, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention introduced the Postpartum Acceleration Initiative in 2019. It aims to enhance women's health awareness and increase post-delivery follow-up visits to 70%, particularly within the first six weeks postpartum. Another high-profile campaign, the Mothers' Endowment Campaign, seeks to raise Dh1 billion to support educational access globally. While primarily focused on learning, the campaign indirectly supports maternal health by empowering women through education and providing opportunities for economic and social advancement.In response to humanitarian crises, the UAE has directed significant resources to conflict-affected populations. In 2024, the UAE announced a $10.25 million aid package to support Sudanese refugee women in Chad. The funds were allocated to UN agencies specialising in maternal and child health, psychosocial support, and gender-based violence prevention, ensuring targeted assistance to women facing the harshest conditions.This commitment to healthcare infrastructure also includes the opening of the "Mother of the Nation" hospital for mothers and children in 2022 on the island of Mohéli in the Comoros under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. This came as part of a number of development projects that were implemented for those affected by Hurricane "Kenneth" that hit the United Republic of the Comoros. 'Philanthropy and humanitarian aid are deeply ingrained in the UAE's identity, often focusing on health, education, and sustainable development globally,' Dr. Ajaj said. 'Health has consistently been a priority, demonstrated by major investments in global initiatives like polio eradication and funding healthcare infrastructure abroad.'She also noted that the UAE's philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives are often rooted in a collaborative structure, emphasising sustainable, long-term impact rather than short-term aid. 'The Beginnings Fund's five-year plan, focus on strengthening local health systems, emphasis on local ownership, and goal of catalysing further funding fit squarely within this approach,' Dr. Ajaj said.
'This commitment isn't an isolated act; it's a strategic investment reflecting the UAE's established priorities in global health, its dedication to sustainable development in regions like Africa, and its belief in achieving lasting impact through partnership,' she added.
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