Al Jalila Foundation Invests AED 59 Million in Medical Education, Treatment and Research to Transform Lives
Al Jalila Foundation has so far invested AED 59 million and transformed the lives of millions of beneficiaries with innovative medical treatment, research and education programs.
The young organization, founded in 2013 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, celebrated the end of a successful year bringing it closer to achieving its goal of positioning Dubai and the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation.
Testament to its ethos of transforming lives, Al Jalila Foundation has invested millions in high-impact healthcare programs in the areas of medical treatment, education and research in the UAE and globally. Relying solely on donor funding, it has reached over 1.6 million beneficiaries from 129 nationalities.
The Foundation celebrated its fourth anniversary by publishing the achievements it has made until 2016, a very successful year for its programs. On a local level, it provided 55 research grants and 6 fellowships to advance research into the biggest health challenges in the region, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and mental health.
In support of efforts to increase the national workforce, Al Jalila Foundation awarded scholarships to 58 Emiratis across a range of medical specialties in the UAE and abroad. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, underlined the importance of such programs in the Foundation’s 2016 report. “By championing homegrown solutions to overcome tomorrow’s health challenges, we aim to make the UAE the global backbone of medical progress and innovation,” he said.
It also funded life-saving treatment for over 270 patients suffering from cancer, heart disease, limb deformities, hearing disabilities and a range of other chronic illnesses. As part of its programs, it helped transform the lives of many children through the Cochlear hearing implants and through prosthetics that restore mobility. It even provided the first 3D printed hand to a young Emirati girl born with a limb abnormality.
Furthermore, education and awareness programs tackled the inclusion of people with disabilities into education curricula through the Ta’alouf training program for parents and teachers. The Foundation is also proud to partner with The Carter Center and has supported two Emirati journalists who were awarded the UAE Rosalynn Carter Journalism Fellowships for Mental Health in its effort to break the silence around mental health.
On a global level, Al Jalila Foundation partnered with UNICEF to provide 1.6 million vaccines across 15 countries to treat maternal and neonatal tetanus, and help 5,625 families across 35 countries get access to clean drinking water and sanitation. In partnership with Sentebale in Lesotho, the Foundation helped establish the Mamohato Children’s Centre to support vulnerable children, including orphans, living with HIV and other disabilities.
Al Jalila Foundation is one of the 28 member entities operating under Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. It relies solely on the support of donors and the community in its mission to transform the lives of as many people as possible in the UAE and beyond.
The Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre, perhaps the Foundation’s most ambitious project, is set to open in 2017 and will be the UAE’s first independent multi-disciplinary research center. As a AED 200 million not-for-profit centre, it will bring together leading local and international scientists to work on finding solutions for the region’s biggest health challenges. It will also collaborate with renowned research institutions around the world to foster scientific collaborations, and nurture homegrown biomedical researchers.
Al Jalila Foundation has partnered with over 40 organisations to fight diabetes, breast cancer and promote good health across the country. It continues its work to meet the objectives of the UAE Vision 2021 of developing life-transforming healthcare programs, and fostering medical entrepreneurship and medical innovation. According to Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees: “The vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform lives [is] a responsibility we are proud to uphold, and one which will continue to guide us to deliver innovative and sustainable philanthropic programs that will impact generations to come.”
The Foundation’s programs have seen support from people from all walks of life from across the country and beyond. Its community fundraising events range from cake sales at schools to marathons, mountain climbing, among other charity challenges. For example, cyclists from across the country participated in the BeWell Cycle Tour UAE to raise awareness on obesity, and participants from around the world climbed up the iconic Jumeirah Emirates Towers Offices as part of the Dubai Holding SkyRun. The Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ ‘Road to Awareness’ campaign helped raise funds to provide life-saving treatment to children with cancer and chronic illness in the UAE, and the 7EmiratesRun contributed to efforts to get children back on their feet with the support of prosthetics.
Alongside the efforts of its partners, the Foundation would not have been able to make such an impact without the support of the business men and women, philanthropists and members of the community who contributed the funds necessary to invest in medical research. Their generous support has enabled the Foundation to invest its efforts and funds to transform the lives of people and their families everywhere. Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation, voiced his appreciation by saying: “Our success depends on the support we receive from our donors, strategic partners and the wider community.”
As the 2017 Year of Giving is underway, Al Jalila Foundation sees more possibilities than ever to achieve its goals and deliver on its commitment to the nation’s health, happiness and prosperity. Inspired by the message of unity behind UAE Vision 2021, it seeks to reinforce unity between the public and private sectors, donors, partners, the academic and scientific communities, and show solidarity with patients and the community. “The momentum is building in 2017 as the ‘Year Of Giving’ is underway – now, more than ever, the possibilities to achieve our shared goals are limitless,” Dr Al Olama added.
For more information please visit www.aljalilafoundation.ae.