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.
It only costs 2 AED to save 2 eyes from river blindness, but that’s not all you’re saving. Your small act of kindness can help save a parent, a child, a home or a community. This Ramadan, give as little as 2 AED and help us save a future. Text ‘GIVE’ to 2424. #reachtheend pic.twitter.com/aRydyvdsAc
— Reach The End (@reachtheendorg) April 15, 2021
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.
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
