Diba Cisskho, 70, lost his eyesight to river blindness. His translucent eyes are the telltale sign of the disease, which is transmitted by black flies. Courtesy Ed Kashi
Diba Cisskho, 70, lost his eyesight to river blindness. His translucent eyes are the telltale sign of the disease, which is transmitted by black flies. Courtesy Ed Kashi
Fily Kamara, 76, was treated for river blindness decades ago and still has his eyesight, although it is greatly diminished. Courtesy Ed Kashi
Fily Kamara, 76, was treated for river blindness decades ago and still has his eyesight, although it is greatly diminished. Courtesy Ed Kashi
River blindness is caused by repeated bites from black flies that live near flowing water. Courtesy Ed Kashi
River blindness is caused by repeated bites from black flies that live near flowing water. Courtesy Ed Kashi
A young boy from the Yanomami tribe, who live in the rainforest in Brazil and Venezuela. Courtesy: Sam Valadi / Flickr
A young boy from the Yanomami tribe, who live in the rainforest in Brazil and Venezuela. Courtesy: Sam Valadi / Flickr
A worker fumigates the street against mosquito breeding to prevent diseases such as malaria, dengue and Zika in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Andres Martinez Casares / Reuters
A worker fumigates the street against mosquito breeding to prevent diseases such as malaria, dengue and Zika in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Andres Martinez Casares / Reuters

UAE

Emirates Red Crescent's Reach The End campaign appeals for donations during Ramadan

Last year more than Dh2.8 million was raised during the holy month to help fight tropical diseases

The National

April 15, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Emirates Red Crescent is appealing for donations to its Reach The End campaign during Ramadan.

The initiative is designed to support those suffering from tropical diseases such as river blindness.

The previous Ramadan campaign raised more than Dh2.8 million. The money donated during the holy month went to protect the vision of 1.4 million people over the last year.

Progress has already been made to eradicate the disease.

In the Americas, the debilitating condition was eliminated in Colombia in 2007 and in Ecuador in 2009.

The biggest area of concern is Africa, where 99 per cent of the 20 million affected people live.

Read More

10 facts about the most dangerous diseases you've never heard of

Abu Dhabi institute to help eradicate river blindness from the Americas

The treatment for river blindness is ivermectin (also known as Mectizan), but it also protects people from lymphatic filariasis, another disease caused by parasites.

Unlike previous treatments, which had serious – sometimes fatal – side effects, ivermectin is safe and can be used on a wide scale.

Ivermectin has transformed the lives of millions of people suffering from river blindness since its introduction in 1987.

You can donate to the Reach The End campaign by texting ‘GIVE’ to 2424 or visit https://www.emiratesrc.ae/reach​

World Mental Health Day
Pakistan T20 series squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shahzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammed Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Amir Yamin, Mohammed Amir (subject to fitness clearance), Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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Towering concerns
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