UAE, WHO join forces on malaria surveillance project

File picture [for illustration]

In a major step toward eradicating malaria, the UAE and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are launching a regional database to track and combat the disease across 18 countries.

The initiative, led by the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), under the guidance of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, is focusing on the Middle East and North Africa.

The project aims to build a comprehensive digital platform that maps out malaria risk areas based on a century’s worth of environmental and disease data.

Developed in collaboration with the WHO's Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Oxford University, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute, the platform will include maps, mosquito breeding sites, and climate data, helping countries better understand and prevent the return of malaria.

Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Deputy CEO of GLIDE, says the system will allow for smarter resource allocation, more accurate risk assessments, and stronger regional cooperation to keep the disease from making a comeback.

While most countries involved are currently malaria-free, the threat of resurgence remains due to factors like human movement and the ongoing presence of malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

The database is expected to be completed by July 2025, with plans to expand it to cover other vector-borne diseases in the future.

More from UAE

  • H.H. Sheikh Mohammed honours Shabab Al Ahli team

    His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has honoured members of the Shabab Al Ahli football team for clinching four titles this season at a special ceremony in Zabeel Palace.

  • Khalifa Award for Education honours 18th cycle winners

    His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, was named Distinguished Educational Personality in recognition of his extensive contributions to developing the education system locally, regionally and internationally, at an award ceremony held in Abu Dhabi.

  • UAE ship carrying desalination plants arrives in Cyprus

    A UAE ship carrying water desalination plants arrived at Limassol Port in Cyprus on Thursday, to provide clean drinking water and support sustainable global water security.

  • H.H. Sheikh Hamdan attends 34th Joint Command and Staff Course graduation ceremony

    His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, on Thursday attended the graduation ceremony of the 34th Joint Command and Staff Course at the Joint Command and Staff College in Abu Dhabi.