Latest news with #MohamedbinZayedFoundationforHumanity
Al Etihad
12-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
UAE's Beginnings Fund reinforces longstanding commitment to helping mothers, children worldwide
13 May 2025 01:12 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 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Daily Tribune
30-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Abu Dhabi launches $500m maternal health fund for Africa
A $500-million fund aimed at improving maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa was launched Tuesday in Abu Dhabi at a time when Western countries are sharply cutting aid to Africa. The Beginnings Fund brings together philanthropists including the Gates Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, run by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) president.
Sharjah 24
29-04-2025
- Health
- Sharjah 24
UAE President receives supporters, partners of Beginnings Fund
During the meeting, held at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity – which operates under Erth Zayed Philanthropies chaired by H.H Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs – launched the initiative during an event held at Kanad Hospital in Al Ain. The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity also announced a financial contribution of USD125 million to the fund and related initiatives.
Al Etihad
29-04-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
UAE President receives supporters, partners of Beginnings Fund launched by Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity
29 Apr 2025 21:16 ABU DHABI (WAM)President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received supporters and partners of the Beginnings Fund, an initiative which aims to improve maternal and newborn health and reduce mortality rates across Africa. The initiative was launched by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity in collaboration with its the meeting, held at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, His Highness thanked the initiative's supporters and partners, noting that the programme embodies the UAE's longstanding commitment to healthcare across the African continent. He highlighted the country's belief that health is a cornerstone of development and reaffirmed its resolve to work with partners in advancing healthcare and tackling disease worldwide. The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity – which operates under Erth Zayed Philanthropies chaired by His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs – launched the initiative during an event held at Kanad Hospital in Al Ain. The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity also announced a financial contribution of USD125 million to the fund and related initiatives.
ARN News Center
29-04-2025
- Health
- ARN News Center
UAE foundation pledges $125M to improve maternal, newborn survival in Africa
The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity has announced the launch of an initiative to improve maternal and newborn survival in Africa with a grant of $125 million (around AED 459 million). The organisation on Tuesday said the "Beginnings Fund" will work in partnership with African governments, national organisations, and experts to prevent over 300,000 deaths and enhance access to quality care for 34 million mothers and babies by 2030. In collaboration with country-level implementation partners, the "Beginnings Fund" will operate in up to 10 countries - Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe - and continue to pool and invest multi-year funding. The initial commitment from its founding philanthropies is designed to catalyse further funding from new donors, ensuring long-term sustainability. The Fund will focus on equipping facilities with a bundle of low-cost, evidence-based interventions. A total of nearly $600 million was pledged alongside partners from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Delta Philanthropies, The ELMA Foundation, and Gates Foundation, with further funding from Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Patchwork Collective and others. The announcement was made at Kanad Hospital in Al Ain, the first modern hospital to be established in Abu Dhabi. Newborn deaths in the first month of life are the single biggest driver of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, where 70 per cent of maternal deaths also occur. Most of these deaths are preventable with trained health workers providing essential care to mothers and babies. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of World Health Organisation, welcomed the launch of the "the Beginnings Fund" adding that it will help "end these preventable tragedies". Even though the world has made tremendous progress in "reducing the number of maternal and child deaths in the last two decades" using "dedicated health workers and governments, backed by investment and technical know-how," he noted that "every seven seconds, a mother or baby dies a preventable death". The Ethiopian Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, said, "Mothers and newborns should not be dying from causes we know how to prevent". "We all have a shared responsibility to build resilient and well-resourced health systems that can safeguard the life of every pregnant woman and newborn. With the right investments and innovations, countries around the world have succeeded in transforming maternal and newborn care. There is no reason that we cannot do the same.' According to Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, despite researchers pioneering "remarkable new ways to keep mothers and their children alive and healthy", over the last decade.. "these solutions still aren't reaching the people who need them most". Alice Kang'ethe, Chief Executive Officer of the Beginnings Fund, said that African governments, with support from philanthropic and bilateral organisations, are at the forefront of advancing maternal and newborn health and making groundbreaking innovations. The continent is making remarkable strides, but achieving lasting change requires collaborative action.
