The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi will host a Global Health Forum later this year that will serve as a “stepping out” for the United Arab Emirates’ role as a major player in eliminating neglected tropical disease, Devex has learned.

The perspective of [Sheikh Mohammed] in the UAE is that no one should die from preventable disease.

The November 15 event — in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carter Center — will serve as a culmination of past UAE efforts in combating diseases such as polio and malaria, as well as a launch point for an ambitious new push to lead the fight going forward, Dr. Maha Barakat, the director general of the Health Authority in Abu Dhabi, told Devex in an interview.

The new initiative will focus on promoting innovations, both scientific and administrative, in reaching the last mile on key diseases. The November forum is expected to include discussion of advances in ways to combat malaria, as well as public-private partnership possibilities, Barakat said.

Read the full article by Elizabeth Dickinson at Devex International Development